The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

D&D Beyond Drops – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 11 May 2026 03:24:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:05 Sly Flourish News: Quantum Ogres and the Eight Steps, Tagging RPGs, Secret Project Announcement Date
00:06:03 Kickstarter Spotlight: Demonic Grimoire for OSE
00:09:55 D&D & RPG News: Elric for 5e, DCC, and Dragonbane
00:13:19 Commentary: D&D Drops and Being a Good Steward of D&D
00:43:39 D&D & RPG News: Old Gus's Daggerheart Resource Document
00:48:00 Patreon Spotlight: Dyson Map Gallery Updated
00:50:12 DM Tip: Scenes and Situations
00:58:21 Patreon Question: Running Classic Adventures with 5e
01:03:34 Patreon Question: Strong Finishes for Strong Starts

Links

Putrescent Hestor – Dragon Empire Prep Session 65

Fri, 08 May 2026 03:04:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Thoughts on the WOTC Magic Arena Union – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 04 May 2026 02:02:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:56 Sly Flourish News: Not All Checks Need a Mechanical Outcome, Quantum Ogres and the Eight Steps
00:04:02 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches One Shot Builder for Patreon
00:08:43 Sly Flourish News: Mike at 1d4 Con
00:09:35 Product Spotlight: One Shot World by Yochai Gal
00:12:17 Product Spotlight: Final Torch 3 for Shadowdark
00:14:18 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Elves and Fey Humble Bundle
00:17:18 D&D & RPG News: Battlezoo Bestiary Humble Bundle
00:18:18 D&D & RPG News: James Introcaso on When to Roll Checks
00:23:37 Sly Flourish News: Dyson Map Gallery Updated
00:30:07 Commentary: WOTC Employees Form a Union
00:45:41 Commentary: Ghostfire Poll on D&D 2014 and 2024 Use
00:51:47 Patreon Question: Dealing with Discord Enshittification
01:01:35 Patreon Question: Using Lazy DM Material in the Creative Commons

Links

Ossuary of Mot Part 2 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 64

Fri, 01 May 2026 02:09:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

The $140 Artificer Subclass – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:08:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:02 Sly Flourish News: House Rules from Various 5es, Every Roll Doesn't Need Mechanical Outcomes
00:06:25 Sly Flourish News: Grotto of the Grandfather for Shadowdark
00:09:30 Sly Flourish News: Secret Project Update
00:11:35 D&D & RPG News: Land of Eem on Bundle of Holding
00:13:26 Commentary: Cairn Players Guides for Super Cheap
00:20:01 Commentary: The $140 Artificer Subclass
00:34:11 Commentary: Dungeon Masters Liveplay Thoughts
00:47:22 DM Tip: Two Minute Session Zero
00:59:34 Patreon Question: Customizing NPC Stat Blocks
01:05:50 Patreon Question: Best Values in Physical Products

Links

Ossuary of Mot – Dragon Empire Prep Session 63

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:29:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Fighter Wizard Elf – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:29:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:10 Sly Flourish News: Lets Learn Together, House Rules from Various 5es
00:04:12 Sly Flourish News: Patreon Q&A Database
00:09:48 Sly Flourish News: Secret Project Update
00:11:27 Commentary: Crowdfunding Disclaimer
00:12:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Traveller 5e
00:18:21 Kickstarter Spotlight: Jewel of the Sky by MCG
00:21:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Hastening Doom by Kobold Press
00:22:49 Kickstarter Spotlight: Pirates and Plunder by Kobold Press
00:27:41 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG
00:31:26 D&D & RPG News: Daggerheart Hope and Fear Preorder
00:35:20 D&D & RPG News: Fighter Wizard Elf by Jonathan Tweet
00:45:05 D&D & RPG News: Monte Cook Interview on Rascal
00:51:54 DM Tip: Just Use Bears
01:01:59 Patreon Question: Lazy GMing for New GMs
01:08:11 Patreon Question: Risks of Prep Notes in Roll20

Links

Journey to Starhoof – Dragon Empire Prep Session 62

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:53:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Bad Dungeon Beats – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:51:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:44 Sly Flourish News: Because of X You Know Y, What Separates Adventure Types, New Project Feedback
00:04:13 Sly Flourish News: Grotto of the Grandfather for Shadowdark
00:08:23 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches on Alchemy VTT
00:09:33 D&D & RPG News: Open Gaming Licenses for Free League
00:22:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Horror at Devil's Run for Shadowdark
00:23:24 DM Tip: Examples of Bad Dungeon Beats
00:46:02 Patreon Question: Scouting Dungeons with Familiars and Arcane Eye
00:55:42 Patreon Question: Planning Big Boss Fights

Links

The Death of Kal – Dragon Empire Prep Session 61

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:38:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Procedures for RPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:34:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:01 Sly Flourish News: Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master 50% Off
00:03:08 Sly Flourish News: General Purpose Domains, Because of X You Know Y, Secret Project Packet 4
00:07:12 D&D & RPG News: Crypt of Death Shadowdark Level 0 Gauntlet by Raging Swan
00:10:26 D&D & RPG News: Fateforge Humble Bundle
00:14:46 D&D & RPG News: 1d4 Con in West Virginia
00:15:59 D&D & RPG News: Announcements at Kobold Con
00:30:51 D&D & RPG News: New Graphic Character Builder on D&D Beyond
00:37:40 D&D & RPG News: Heroes of the Borderlands in Four Languages
00:41:13 D&D & RPG News: Crit Hit the Giant Gary Con Review
00:42:03 DM Tip: Procedures in RPGs
01:01:38 Patreon Question: Do Players Notice or Care about Forge of Foes Monsters?
01:06:07 Patreon Question: Switch Systems Mid Campaign?

Links

Dragonbane Review

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:39:00 -0400

Mike reviews the Dragonbane RPG by Free League Publishing.

Show Contents

0:00 Show Start
2:34 Initial Thoughts – I Love It
5:25 Things I Love About Dragonbane
12:59 Adversaries – NPCs and Monsters
22:32 General Observations
27:51 Rough Spots
35:12 Managing Character Progression
40:17 Evasion and Fancy Footwork
48:55 Lazy GM Tips for Dragonbane
53:10 Adventure Book Thoughts
59:05 Final Thoughts

Links

Should WOTC Make New Campaigns Settings? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:38:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:43 Sly Flourish News: Return of the Lazy DM On Sale for 50% Off!
00:04:39 Sly Flourish News: Experiences Running 3x5e, General Purpose Domains, Secret Project Updates
00:08:41 D&D & RPG News: Ars Magica 5.0 Released Under CC BY SA
00:13:48 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Announcements at Garycon
00:31:11 Commentary: Should WOTC Make New Campaign Settings?
00:59:18 Patreon Question: Moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in the Story
01:03:41 Patreon Question: D&D 2014 versus D&D 2024 Likes and Dislikes

Links

Save the Sultana – Dragon Empire Prep Session 60

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:10:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

The Roadblock for New RPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 03:09:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:10 Sly Flourish News: Play Solo RPGs, Experiences Running a 1 to 20 3x5e Game, Secret Project News
00:07:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Druskara for Shadowdark
00:12:21 Kickstarter Spotlight: Creating Villains and Lairs by Jeff Stevens
00:15:27 Commentary: Onboard Players with Cheap or Free Player Guides
00:37:20 DM Tip: Who Summarizes Your Last Session
00:45:56 Patreon Question: Announcing Non-Betraying NPCs in Session Zero
00:51:39 Patreon Question: Is Procedural Prep and Play Good?
00:59:07 Patreon Question: Building Situations

Links

Journey to Valera – Dragon Empire Prep Session 59

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:30:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

New D&D News – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:30:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:16 Sly Flourish News: Eight Steps and Other RPGs, Play Solo RPGs, Secret Project
00:04:42 Sly Flourish News: Mike on Ship of the Dead Podcast
00:06:30 D&D & RPG News: Dolmenwood PDFs On Sale
00:13:39 D&D & RPG News: D&D Ravenloft the Horrors Within
00:19:48 D&D & RPG News: Arcana Unleashed
00:23:58 D&D & RPG News: Arcana Unleashed Deadfall
00:26:37 D&D & RPG News: New D&D Web Site
00:38:16 D&D & RPG News: D&D 5.5?
00:45:30 Commentary: Things I Love About Daggerheart
01:12:38 Patreon Question: 5e Threats of Death

Links

Journey to Siwal – Dragon Empire Prep Session 58

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:53:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Discord Woes – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:51:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:54 Sly Flourish News: Greed, Heroism, and Wonder; Do the Eight Steps work for other RPGs?; new secret project packet next week
00:04:12 Patreon Question: Character Creation During Session Zeros for Traveler Online
00:06:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Stoneshatter Tomb
00:08:38 Commentary: More Dragonbane Thoughts
00:22:15 Commentary: Daggerheart Review Article and Thoughts
00:37:15 Commentary: Discord Enshittification
00:46:41 DM Tip: Move Steps Forward
00:54:07 Patreon Question: What Makes You Play 5e?
01:00:03 Patreon Question: Character Creation During Session Zeros for Traveler Online
01:02:49 Patreon Question: Managing Challenge with Sidekicks

Links

The Sarklan Desert – Dragon Empire Prep Session 57

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:55:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

A Tale of Two Solos – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 02:53:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:01 Sly Flourish News: Slashes and Xs; Greed, Heroism, and Wonder; Secret Project Packet 2
00:04:41 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dragonbane Trudvang
00:08:45 Commentary: A Tale of Two Solos
00:33:30 DM Tip: Survive and Thrive at Gaming Conventions
00:53:14 Patreon Question: When to Choose Three Villains For Your Campaign
00:57:09 Patreon Question: Revealing Villain Quests Through Secrets
00:59:31 Patreon Question: Running Campaigns About Revolution
01:01:49 Patreon Question: Famous NPC Cameos in Adventures and Campaigns

Links

Selket's Sting – Dragon Empire Prep Session 56

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:04:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

We All Won – Three Years since the OGL Crisis – Lazy RPG Talk show

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:03:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:02 Sly Flourish News: Many RPG Hobbies, X and Slash to Track Damage, Secret Project Batch 2
00:04:15 Kickstarter Spotlight: Rock and Roar Monsters for OSE and Shadowdark
00:05:40 Kickstarter Spotlight: Under the Shadow of Helfast Spire for Shadowdark
00:07:37 Kickstarter Spotlight: Blades 68
00:08:59 Kickstarter Spotlight: Nimble Reprint
00:11:20 Kickstarter Spotlight: Numenera for Cypher
00:18:04 Commentary: We All Won – Three Years since the OGL Crisis
00:47:51 DM Tip: Because of X, You Know Y
00:54:40 Patreon Question: Running Two Groups Thorugh the Same Campaign
00:58:03 Patreon Question: Pausing Personal Quests
01:01:12 Patreon Question: Adding 5e Rules to D&D 2024

Links

Battling Trivvan – Dragon Empire Prep Session 55

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:20:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Down Among the Dead Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:21:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:11 Sly Flourish News: Lazy Campaign Checklist, Many RPG Hobbies
00:10:00 Patreon Spotlight: Dwarven Forge VTT Backdrops
00:15:57 D&D & RPG News: Baldur's Gate TV Show
00:21:27 DM Tip: Feedback and Ideas for Scene Target Numbers
00:31:31 Product Spotlight: Down Among the Dead for Pirate Borg
00:45:58 DM Tip: Case Study Solution for Betraying Quest NPCs
01:00:36 Patreon Question: Involving Players in Collaborative Worldbuilding
01:05:19 Patreon Question: Planning Final Sessions of Long Campaign and One Year Later

Links

Assault on Third Heaven – Dragon Empire Prep Session 54

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:15:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Not Like This – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 02:15:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:16 Sly Flourish News: Your Own Prep Framework, Lazy Campaign Building Checklist, New Project Test Chapters Released
00:09:48 Commentary: More Thoughts on Dragonbane
00:33:09 DM Tip: Single Target Number for a Scene
00:42:22 Commentary: Not Like This
00:52:54 Patreon Question: Dreadful Blessings for Legendary Actions
01:00:05 Patreon Question: Cult of the False Hydra

Links

The Twin Dragons – Dragon Empire Prep Session 53

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:30:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

I Played Crows at PAGE 3 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 03:28:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:03 Sly Flourish News: Location Moves, Simplest Quest Model, Your Own Prep Framework
00:03:47 Patreon Question: Missing Players with Strong Story Connections
00:06:38 Sly Flourish News: Dragonbane, Daggerheart, Tales of the Valiant Games
00:15:00 Kickstarter Spotlight: Nighthunters by Tales of the Valiant
00:19:00 Kickstarter Spotlight: Savage Arctic For Shadowdark by Jeff Stevens
00:21:37 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dungeons Inc by Merry Mushman
00:24:04 D&D & RPG News: Halls of Arden Vul Bundle of Holding
00:26:15 Product Spotlight: Index Card RPG GM's Guide and Player's Guide
00:30:37 D&D & RPG News: Dungeon Masterpiece on Four Indie RPGs
00:47:35 Commentary: Crows Playtest with James Introcaso
00:52:54 Patreon Question: Antagonistic Relationships with Warlock Patrons
00:56:20 Patreon Question: Roles for Players to Help Run the Game
00:58:52 Patreon Question: Missing Players with Current Connections
01:01:00 Patreon Question: Ninth Step for Larger World Ideas

Links

Journey to Nurduran – Dragon Empire Prep Session 52

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 02:02:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Dolmenwood Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:11:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:44 Sly Flourish News: Single-Encounter Situations, Location Moves, Tower of Kartan, PAGE 3
00:05:57 Sly Flourish News: ToV, Dragonbane, Daggerheart Thoughts
00:16:50 D&D & RPG News: BackerKit Hack
00:18:21 D&D & RPG News: Kansas City Chiefs Play D&D
00:23:13 D&D & RPG News: Stranger Things Boxed Set Sells Out
00:27:09 Product Spotlight: Dolmenwood
00:52:47 DM Tip: High-Value RPG Tricks
01:04:46 Patreon Question: Taking Notes During the Game

Links

Saving Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 51

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:09:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Stranger Things Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 02:08:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:53 Sly Flourish News: 5e Crafting, Single-Encounter Situations, 5eADB Dark Mode, Tower of Kartan
00:05:42 Sly Flourish News: Top Ten Articles of 2025
00:13:38 D&D & RPG News: Tim Kask Passes Away
00:14:37 D&D & RPG News: James Haeck Joins WOTC
00:15:13 D&D & RPG News: Shannon Appelcline on RPG Business in 2025
00:16:09 Commentary: Stranger Things Series Finale & D&D
00:29:31 DM Tip: On Puzzles
00:50:54 Patreon Question: Prepping Cities the Lazy Way
00:54:37 Patreon Question: Taking Notes During a Game

Links

Journey to Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 50

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 03:41:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Tabletop RPGs 2025 Year in Review – The Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:39:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:04:14 Commentary: A Look Back at 2025
00:05:31 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Stuff That Happened in 2025
00:11:41 Commentary: Awesome New RPGs in 2025
00:20:52 Commentary: Lots of Open Licensed Games in 2025
00:25:35 DM Tip: My Favorite 5e Trick of 2025 – Doom Points
00:29:01 Commentary: Big D&D Products of 2025
00:34:02 Commentary: Daggerheart's Big Splash in 2025
00:39:41 Commentary: Brennan Lee Mulligan Runs Critical Role Season 4 with D&D 2024
00:40:32 Commentary: Project Sigil Shuts Down, One D&D Ends
00:44:14 Commentary: 2026 Predictions

Links

Tower of Horn and Gold – Dragon Empire Prep Session 49

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 02:28:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Save Dungeon Tube! – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 02:26:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:12 Sly Flourish News: Crap in my Tackle Box, Timing Sessions
00:03:38 D&D & RPG News:Traveller Bundle of Holding
00:06:13 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant Bundle of Holding
00:09:05 D&D & RPG News: Panhandle PBS on RPG Culture
00:10:46 D&D & RPG News: Vote on Anticipated RPGs of 2026
00:13:33 Commentary: Save Dungeontube!
00:25:52 DM Tip: Modifying Published Adventures
00:56:23 Patreon Question: Character Motivations for New Players
01:00:10 Patreon Question: Hurrying and Speeding Up Players

Links

The Ghoul Emperor – Dragon Empire Prep Session 48

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 03:44:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

D&D Beyond AMA – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:42:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:59 Sly Flourish News: Last Days of Sly Flourish Book Sale!
00:03:48 Sly Flourish News: Adventure Prompts, Crap in my Tackle Box
00:06:24 D&D & RPG News: JP Coovert Gift Guide
00:07:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Crack the Sun for Draw Steel
00:11:50 Product Spotlight: Dread Dungeonomicon by Raging Swan
00:16:54 D&D & RPG News: D&D Beyond Developer AMA
00:31:42 D&D & RPG News: 5.2.1 SRD Released in Four Languages
00:36:52 DM Tip: Prep Through Villains
00:50:53 Patreon Question: Convincing Players to Play Folk-Heroic RPGs
00:57:49 Patreon Question: Players Drawing Maps on GM Descriptions
01:00:25 Patreon Question: GM Notes and Campaign Continuity and Consistency

Links

Parsis the Hidden – Dragon Empire Prep Session 47

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:44:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

A Tale of Two Session Zeros – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 02:42:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:59 Sly Flourish News: 20% Off Books and Free Shipping in US and UK on $50 or More
00:02:30 Sly Flourish News: Running Scarlet Minotaur, Seek Adventure Prompts, Monastery of Astarion
00:05:42 Sly Flourish News: Mike on the Games with Dave Stream
00:06:29 D&D & RPG News: Forge of the Artificer Articles on EN World
00:09:39 D&D & RPG News: EN World 2026 Anticipated RPG Nominations
00:16:14 Commentary: A Tale of Two Session Zeros
00:50:54 DM Tip: Campaign Prep Part 2 – Post Session Zero
01:03:02 Patreon Question: Types of Secrets

Links

Smuggling Wyvonir Part 1 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 46

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:39:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Exciting RPGs of 2026 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 02:40:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:43 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Books 20% off with Free Shipping
00:02:11 Sly Flourish News: Favorite 2025 Products, Running Shadowdark's Scarlet Minotaur, Patron Obsidian Vaults
00:05:16 Kickstarter Spotlight: Beast RPG for 5e
00:09:08 D&D & RPG News: Shadowrun 5e Bundle of Holding
00:12:09 D&D & RPG News: Dyson Commerical Maps of 2025
00:13:43 Commentary: RPGs of 2026
00:30:48 DM Tip: Prepping New Campaigns
00:46:48 Patreon Question: Roll Dice in the Open
00:49:24 Patreon Question: Is Shadowdark Still the Best D&D Starter Set?
00:53:02 Patreon Question: Improvising Failing Forward
00:57:26 Patreon Question: Trends in RPGs Post OGL
01:01:53 Patreon Question: Playing RPGs is Boring

Links

Dragonbane Campaign Prep

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 03:17:00 -0500

Show Links

Favorite RPG Products of 2025 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 02:16:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:03 Sly Flourish News: When to Cheat at RPGs, 2025 Favorite RPG Products, Finished Two Campaigns, Next Campaigns
00:06:25 Sly Flourish News: Apperance on Solo RPG Podcast
00:07:20 Kickstarter Spotlight: Temple of the Lightbringers by MT Black
00:09:22 D&D & RPG News: Pax Unplugged, Lots of Daggerheart, Nothing for D&D
00:18:33 Commentary: Favorite RPG Products of 2025
00:32:51 Patreon Spotlight: Dwarven Forge VTT Backdrops
00:35:52 DM Tip: Run Great Campaign Endings
00:50:21 Patreon Question: Running Cohesive Campaigns
00:54:07 Patreon Question: Why Are the Eight Steps In Their Current Order?
01:00:09 Patreon Question: Factions in a Homebrew Setting

Links

The Blood Mage – Dragon Empire Prep Session 45

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:19:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

What Is the OSR? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:16:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 Sly Flourish News: Mash Up the Eight Steps, How to Cheat at RPGs, Dread Necropolis,
03:47 Sly Flourish News: New RPGs Hitting My Desk
10:17 D&D & RPG News: Fantasy Grounds Free to Play and Online Compendium
13:20 D&D & RPG News: D&D Nexus on Demiplane
17:10 Commentary: Is Locally Owned Software Important?
23:57 D&D & RPG News: Apocalypse World Burned Over AMA on Reddit
24:56 Commentary: What Is the OSR?
50:38 DM Tip: Pre-Game Rituals
57:42 Patreon Question: Generating Random Adventures
01:02:26 Patreon Question: Stranger Things D&D Box To Bring In New Players

Links

The Blood Spire Part 2 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 44

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:46:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

D&D School Resources Return – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 02:45:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:01:08 Sly Flourish News: Alternative Initiative Options, Mashing Up the Eight Steps
00:02:49 Patreon Spotlight: Dread Necropolis Adventure Scenario
00:05:06 Sly Flourish News: Upcoming Games
00:09:29 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Book Bundle
00:13:06 Kickstarter Spotlight: Drakkenheim Daggerheart Campaign Book
00:18:02 Kickstarter Spotlight: Apocalypse World Burned Over
00:23:45 D&D & RPG News: Meg and Vincent Baker and Jonathan Harper Podcast with Ben Riggs
00:25:02 D&D & RPG News: Shannon Appleclein on Mastering Dungeons
00:28:09 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Brings Back Educational Resources for D&D
00:32:20 D&D & RPG News: New One Ring Adventures
00:34:38 DM Tip: Experiences with Dreadful Blessings
00:55:46 Patreon Question: Building Characters for One-on-One RPGs
00:58:31 Patreon Question: Motivations for Cultists
01:01:44 Patreon Question: Dealing and Facilitating Table Talk
01:03:59 Patreon Question: Tuning Bosses in Shadowdark

Links

The Blood Spire – Dragon Empire Prep Session 43

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 02:43:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Forgotten Realms Heroes and Adventures in Faerun Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 02:40:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:38 Sly Flourish News: Improv vs. Prep, Three Initiative Options
02:12 Patreon Spotlight: Dyson Commercial Maps Gallary
05:15 Sly Flourish News: Halloween Shadowdark Ravenloft Game
08:47 Sly Flourish News: Appearance on EN World
09:32 Commentary: Evil Hat Games and EPUB for Accessibility
13:44 Commentary: What Is the Lazy RPG Talk Show?
26:36 Product Spotlight: Forgotten Realms Heroes and Adventures of Faerun
49:29 Patreon Question: Improvising Map Annotations and Details
54:15 Patreon Question: Connecting with Another Player's Character
56:15 Patreon Question: How do you Review the Characters?

Links

The Void Dragon – Dragon Empire Prep Session 42

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 02:34:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Project Sigil Ends – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:33:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:01 Sly Flourish News: Gamehole Panels, Ravenloft with Shadowdark, Models Fuel Creativity, Prep Versus Improv
05:42 D&D & RPG News: StartPlaying.Games RPG Mental Health Survey
11:23 D&D & RPG News: Rob Weiland Passes Away
13:11 D&D & RPG News: Asmodee Takes Control of Lord of the Rings Tabletop License
16:56 D&D & RPG News: 30% Off Chaosium Products on DTRPG
17:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Origins 4-Volume D&D Product History by Evil Hat
19:45 D&D & RPG News: Glass Cannon Liveplay using Shadowdark and Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
20:33 D&D & RPG News: D&D 3D VTT Project Sigil Officially Ends
29:48 Product Spotlight: Phantasy Star RPG
37:23 Commentary: Experiences at Gamehole Con 2025
54:15 Patreon Spotlight: Crypts of Karigulon Updates
59:02 Patreon Question: Friend Doesn't Want My AI / LLM Generated Campaign

Links

Top GM Tips Gamehole Con 2025 Seminar – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:51:00 -0400

Mike Shea, David Christ, and Allan Patrick share our best GM tips and discuss with the audience at our Gamehole Con panel recorded on 18 October 2025

Links

The Beautiful Mess of 5e Gamehole Con Seminar – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 02:34:00 -0400

A recording of the "Beautiful Mess of 5e" Gamehole Con seminar recorded on 15 October 2025 with Teos Abadia, Shawn Merwin, Mike Mearls, and Mike Shea.

Links

The Void Portal – Dragon Empire Prep Session 41

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 03:01:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Back Up your Digital RPG Stuff – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:58:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:45 Sly Flourish News: Tab Your Books, Ravenloft with Shadowdark, Gamehole Con
04:01 Patreon Spotlight: 5e Artisanal Database Combat Tracker
10:43 Kickstarter Spotlight: Allies and Enemies for Shadowdark
12:26 Kickstarter Spotlight: Hall of Horrors for Daggerheart, Candela Obscura, and 5e
14:49 Sly Flourish News: Partnering with Let's Quest
16:49 Commentary: Back Up Your Digital RPG Stuff
34:25 DM Tip: The Value of Adventure Types
43:14 Patreon Question: Advanced Traps in 5e
48:18 Patreon Question: Keeping Multiple RPG Rulesets In Our Heads
53:10 Patreon Question: Homebrewing Adventures As Good As Published Adventures

Links

Eustasia Stonegaze – Dragon Empire Prep Session 40

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:29:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Land of Eem Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:28:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:58 Sly Flourish News: Take it Easy, Tab Your Books, Gamehole Con, PAGE 3
04:55 Kickstarter Spotlight: Hexploration Decks by Inkwell Ideas
06:51 D&D & RPG News: Better Accessibiliy for PDFs
11:15 D&D & RPG News: How to Make an RPG Book
12:34 Product Spotlight: The Land of Eem
33:10 Commentary: Great 3rd Edition Forgotten Realms Products
48:23 DM Tip: The Simplest Quest Model
55:03 Patreon Question: Preparing to Improvise
58:40 Patreon Question: Handling Monsters who Give Up or Run

Links

Heroes of Four of Forty Fingers – Dragon Empire Prep Session 39

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:29:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Did WOTC Pay Critical Role? (No) – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 03:28:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:50 Sly Flourish News: Use Agnostic Tools, Go Easy On Yourself, Vathrex Unchained
00:03:16 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Bundle of Holding
00:07:05 Product Spotlight: Mythic Game Master Emulator for Solo RPGs
00:12:49 D&D & RPG News: How Many D&D Products Are There?
00:16:28 D&D & RPG News: Critical Role Interview on Dungeon Craft
00:37:47 DM Tip: What's Your Villain's Backup Plan?
00:52:34 Patreon Question: Share DCs and ACs?
00:57:09 Patreon Question: Worth Running Other RPGs?
01:04:13 Patreon Question: Starter Sets for Experienced Groups?

Links

Villainous Backup Plans

Makes a pact with a devil
Sacrifices themselves
Sacrifices their followers
Sacrifices something they love
Finds another key
Conducts a life stealing ritual
Makes a deal with a rival
Digs everywhere
Goes after something the characters love
Allies with a more powerful being
Creates a fake key
Moves at a faster pace
Takes a big risk
Digs a new entrance
Attempts to destroy the thing
Seeks an alternative route
Goes after an alternative artifact
Infiltrates through a parallel world
Sends in an army
Seeks the Forbidden Way

Return to the Shrine of the Lower Left Hand – Dragon Empire Prep Session 38

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:55:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Is WOTC Being a Good Steward of D&D? Fall 2025 Update! – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 03:56:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:59 Sly Flourish News: Published Adventures, Use Agnostic Tools, Vathrix Unchained
04:28 Sly Flourish News: Lazy DM's Workbook in NY Magazine
05:42 D&D & RPG News: Justice Arman on Mastering Dungeons
07:35 D&D & RPG News: D&D Starter Set Ad and Liveplay
11:25 Commentary: Is WOTC Being a Good Steward of the RPG Hobby?
38:59 Commentary: Dragonbane Feedback
52:08 Patreon Question: Running Paper Character Sheets
55:44 Patreon Question: Magic Item Attunement Criteria

Links

D&D Starter Set – Heroes of the Borderlands – First Look

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 02:29:00 -0400

Mike offers his first look at the new D&D Starter Set – Heroes of the Borderlands.

Dragonbane Boxed Set Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 01:28:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:39 Sly Flourish News: Lazy Map Annotations, Are Published Adventures Easier?, the Beautiful Mess of 5e
05:35 Sly Flourish News: Attention Retailers
07:08 D&D & RPG News: Starter Set Spotlights
09:13 Product Spotlight: Dragonbane Core Boxed Set
40:18 DM Tip: The Value of Solo Play
46:12 Patreon Question: Preparing Dungeons
51:28 Patreon Question: Colonialism and Looting Treasure
01:00:49 Patreon Question: Running 90 Minute Games

Links

What is the Best 5e? – Lazy RPG Talk Show Special

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Mike dives into the three core books of four different 5e systems and offers his opinions on the best of the bunch!

00:00 - I love 5e
01:48 - What is 5e?
06:51 - Focusing on Four Versions -- D&D 2014, D&D 2024, Level Up Advanced 5e, and Tales of the Valiant
08:51 - Focusing on the Core Books
09:26 - What is the Best 5e?
11:36 - Best Player's Handbook
24:27 - Best Game Master Guide
36:57 - Best Monster Book
46:06 - Recapping the Ranking
47:02 - Mix and Match

Links

Sunspear – Dragon Empire Prep Session 37

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:12:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Daggerheart Initial Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 03:11:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:44 Sly Flourish News: Track Turns the Shadowdark Way, The Secret of the Eight Steps of Lazy GM Prep
02:16 Sly Flourish News: 300 Room Descriptions
09:06 D&D & RPG News: DMs Guild Humble Bundle
12:26 D&D & RPG News: Dungeon Master Diaries on Playing Games Online
14:07 Commentary: Daggerheart Initial Thoughts
50:17 DM Tip: Roll for Monster Targets
56:57 Patreon Question: Dealing with the Mid-Campaign Blues
01:02:12 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Spend Treasure

Links

Sapphire's Song – Dragon Empire Prep Session 36

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 02:30:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Critical Role Chooses D&D 2024 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 02:29:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 Sly Flourish News: Lazy 5e Magic Item Prices, Track Turns the Shadowdark Way, 14th Key of Worlds Scenario
05:48 Sly Flourish News: 5e Artisanal Database Treasure Generators
10:11 D&D & RPG News: Ironsworn Bundle of Holding
12:39 Kickstarter Spotlight: Aethereal Expanse Dreams of the Drowned God by Ghostfire Gaming
15:09 D&D & RPG News: Critical Role Season 4 Uses D&D 2024
33:40 D&D & RPG News: Dark Sun Subclasses in Playtesting
37:26 D&D & RPG News: Cypher System 2e Preview from Monte Cook Games
41:01 Product Spotlight: Nimble Boxed Set
51:39 DM Tip: Fixing Counterspell and Spell-Like Attacks
01:02:03 Patreon Question: How to Reveal Character Secrets

Links

Seggotan's Anvil – Dragon Empire Prep Session 35

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 02:47:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

D&D Versus Magic the Gathering – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 01:46:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:12 Sly Flourish News: NPC Betrayal, 5e Magic Item Prices
03:03 Sly Flourish News: 20% Sly Flourish Books and Free US Shipping
04:04 Patreon Spotlight: Readings and Reflections
05:34 Patreon Spotlight: 5eADB Dice Roller and Point Buy Calculator
09:56 Product Spotlight: Tales of the Valiant Starter Set
21:52 Commentary: D&D Versus Magic the Gathering
49:23 DM Tip: Lazy Map Annotation
54:47 Patreon Question: Best Tools for Digital D&D?
59:18 Patreon Question: Shadowdark Feeling with 5e

Links

The Helm of Teleportation – Dragon Empire Prep Session 34

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 03:31:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Lose Yourself in Fiction – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 02:32:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:29 Sly Flourish News: Lazy World Building, Avoid NPC Betrayal
02:31 Sly Flourish News: Summer Sale - 20% off books and free US shipping \> $60
03:49 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches on Shard
04:57 Sly Flourish News: DM's Guid to Tyranny of Dragons by Beadle and Grimm
06:59 Sly Flourish News: Mike Joins Luke Hart on DM's Lair
09:19 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Partnering with Let's Quest for After-School RPGs
12:34 Sly Flourish News: 5e ADB Monster Database
19:32 D&D & RPG News: D&D Starter Set Details
23:57 DM Tip: Choose Your Next RPG
36:11 DM Tip: Lose Yourself in Fiction
48:38 Patreon Question: Overwhelming Players with Villain Quest Progression
53:10 Patreon Question: Running Games with One Online Player
57:28 Patreon Question: D&D 2024 Slowing Down Combat?

Links

Din of the Void – Dragon Empire Prep Session 33

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:20:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

"Welecome Back" to D&D? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 02:22:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 Sly Flourish News: Ten Heist Encounters, Lazy World Building
02:28 Sly Flourish News: Map Annotator in 5eADB
06:06 D&D & RPG News: ENNIE Winners
07:46 D&D & RPG News: Cypher System Revised by Monte Cook Games
14:59 D&D & RPG News: Daggerheart Class Decks, New Adventures, New Worlds with Keith Baker
20:06 D&D & RPG News: Critical Role Season 4 with Brennan Lee Mulligan
23:28 D&D & RPG News: Pathfinder Abomination Vaults on D&D Beyond
25:20 Commentary: D&D Beyond Isn't a Fair Business Platform
32:57 D&D & RPG News: Exclusive Forgotten Realms Products on D&D Beyond
39:26 Commentary: "Welcome Back" post by Dan Ayoub
01:00:24 DM Tip: Five Scenes
01:07:30 Patreon Question: 3-2-1 Quest Model Without a Job Board

Links

Colosseum of the Red Sun – Dragon Empire Prep Session 32

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 02:30:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Who is the Stranger Things D&D Starter Set For? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 02:28:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:08 Sly Flourish News: Three Quests, Ten Heist Encounters, Endless Warrens Adventure Scenario
00:05:58 Sly Flourish News: Token Maker in 5e Artisanal Database
00:09:06 D&D & RPG News: Signed Sly Flourish Books and Hexploration Kits at Gencon Inkwell Ideas Booth 150
00:13:06 D&D & RPG News: Eddie Munson Stranger Things D&D Starter Set
00:24:09 D&D & RPG News: Cthulhu by Torchlight on D&D Beyond
00:34:39 DM Tip: Experiences Running the D&D 2024 Lich
00:55:03 Patreon Question: Fitting RPGs into a Busy Life
01:02:05 Patreon Question: Converting City of Arches and Grendleroot to Daggerheart

Links

Alien Invasion – Dragon Empire Prep Session 31

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 02:46:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Eberron Forge of the Artificer is Weird – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:47:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:38 Sly Flourish News: Take it Easy, Prep Three Quests, Shadowdark Adventure, Creative Spark Appearance,
03:12 Sly Flourish News: Lazy 5e Treasure Generator
06:00 D&D & RPG News: Black Flag Released in Creative Commons
11:45 Commentary: Eberron Forge of the Artificer is a Weird Product
24:16 Commentary: 2025 D&D Starter Set
33:20 DM Tip: Experiences Running the D&D 2024 Death Knight
42:29 DM Tip: Lazy 5e Magic Item Prices
52:20 Patreon Question: Where Do Your RPG Tips Come From?
57:15 Patreon Question: Converting D&D 2024 Material Back to 2014

Links

Darkstar – Dragon Empire Prep Session 30

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 02:02:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

What Is a D&D Franchise Model? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 02:03:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:54 Sly Flourish News: Treasure Parcels, Take it Easy, Shadowdark Adventure
05:06 Sly Flourish News: 5e Artisanal Database Encounter calculator
09:13 D&D & RPG News: New VP of D&D and a D&D Franchise Model
22:37 Product Spotlight: City of Arches Spotlight
40:09 DM Tip: What Do You Need To Run Your Next Session?
52:58 Patreon Question: Are We Leaving Fun at the Table?
58:59 Patreon Question: Revealing Character Secrets

Links

Stonewatch – Dragon Empire Prep Session 29

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:36:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Labyrinth Worldbook Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:36:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:06 Sly Flourish News: Chessex Mat Review, Treasure Parcels, Shadowdark Adventure
00:03:06 Sly Flourish News: 5e Artisanal Database Advanced Search Features
00:09:43 D&D & RPG News: RPG Mega Bundle on Humble Bundle
00:14:31 D&D & RPG News: Free Leage Summer Sales
00:16:42 D&D & RPG News: 2025 ENNIE Nominations
00:17:36 Commentary: Dungeon Delves Core Book Compatibility and Betrayal Adventures
00:34:51 Product Spotlight: Labyrinth by Kobold Press
00:53:01 DM Tip: The Two Opposing Truths of RPGs
01:00:15 Patreon Question: Maps and Theater of the Mind Breaking Immersion

Links

Salos Goldtooth – Dragon Empire Prep Session 28

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 02:24:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Dragon Delves Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:25:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:45 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, Weapons of Power, Combat Tracker
00:01:53 Sly Flourish News: Weapons of Power Supplement
00:09:25 Sly Flourish News: Dread Necropolis Adventure Toolkit
00:12:53 Sly Flourish News: Combat Tracker in 5e Artisanal Database
00:18:17 D&D & RPG News: Numenera Humble Bundle
00:21:59 Product Spotlight: Dragon Delves for D&D
00:40:26 DM Tip: Building a Lazy Pantheon
00:54:43 Patreon Question: Adventure-Breaking Character Abilities
01:01:36 Patreon Question: Climactic Negotiations

Links

Return to the Four of Forty Fingers – Dragon Empire Prep Session 27

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 02:20:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

What Defines a Successful RPG? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 03:18:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

00:00 Show Start
00:59 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, Scions of Light, 5eADB Updates
09:19 Kickstarter Spotlight: Treasures in the Dark by Jeff Stevens
10:43 D&D & RPG News: Perkins and Crawford Join Darrington Press, Ivan van Norman Leaves DP, Todd Kendrick Laid Off, Jess Lanzillo Leaves WOTC
16:57 Commentary: The RPG Business Punditry Hobby
22:14 Commentary: What Makes an RPG Successful?
37:30 DM Tip: Running 200 Ghouls in One Battle
49:53 Patreon Question: Campaign Plans and Player Agency
55:30 Patreon Question: Best Resources for New GMs
58:43 Patreon Question: Managing Large Groups of Monsters

Links

Returning Greyharp – Dragon Empire Prep Session 26

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 02:16:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Daggerheart Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 02:17:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:48 Sly Flourish News: 5e Artisanal Database Updates, Key of Worlds Scenario 11
08:25 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dragonbane Arkand & Book of Magic
11:19 D&D & RPG News: LGBTQ\+ TTRPG Bundle on Bundle of Holding
11:54 Product Spotlight: Daggerheart
36:08 DM Tip: Track Monster Damage with Xs and Slashes
47:16 Patreon Question: Telling Players About Quests
51:13 Patreon Question: Keeping a Campaign's Tone Consistent
54:33 Patreon Question: Tying Character Backgrounds to Published Adventures

Links

Vestar the Shining Storm – Dragon Empire Prep Session 25

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 03:38:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

The 5e Artisanal Database – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 02:37:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:02 D&D & RPG News: Happy Pride Month
00:01:31 Sly Flourish News: Leave Blanks, Hang On Loosely, COA Available Worldwide, Markdown and EPUB Lazy DM's Companion
00:08:03 D&D & RPG News: Daggerheart in Markdown
00:09:50 D&D & RPG News: Grim Hollow Bundle of Holding
00:13:48 D&D & RPG News: RPG Game Master Book Series Humble Bundle
00:15:01 Kickstarter Spotlight: Tales of the Valiant Player's Guide 2
00:18:40 Product Spotlight: Horizon Issue 3 by Wildmage Press
00:21:46 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2014 to D&D 2024 Conversion Guide
00:25:51 D&D & RPG News: Ten Cultist Powers by Evan Rash
00:26:53 D&D & RPG News: Corridor Themes by Justin Alexander
00:29:58 Sly Flourish News: The 5e Artisanal Database
00:39:04 DM Tip: The Power of Text Files
00:50:41 Patreon Question: Running the Keep Scenario from Lazy DM's Companion
00:55:16 Patreon Question: Sly Flourish Tools for Shadowdark
01:03:04 Patreon Question: Stocking Dungeons

Links

The Third Heaven – Dragon Empire Prep Session 24

Fri, 30 May 2025 02:21:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Daggerheart Released – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 26 May 2025 03:22:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:33 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, Updated Obsidian Notes, COA Shipping in Europe, Lazy DM's Companion in EPUB and Markdown
08:04 D&D & RPG News: Old School Essentials Bundle of Holding
11:14 Kickstarter Spotlight: Blades in the Dark Deep Cuts
13:52 D&D & RPG News: Daggerheart Released
27:42 DM Tip: Mashing Up the Eight Steps
48:04 Commentary: Too Much Linking In Markdown Notes
49:57 Patreon Question: Rolling 3d6 For Ability Scores
53:34 Patreon Question: Low Level Characters with Powerful Legacy Magic Items
57:11 Patreon Question: Building Rich Tactical Battles in Old School Adventures

Links

The Shadow Drake – Dragon Empire Prep Session 23

Fri, 23 May 2025 02:36:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Gary Gygax's 25 Year D&D Predictions from 1999 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 19 May 2025 02:34:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:08 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, Key of Worlds Scenario 10, COA Shipping News
06:25 D&D & RPG News: Raging Swan Bundle of Holding
09:14 Kickstarter Spotlight: Neon City Outlaws by Rodney Thompson
12:17 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 5.2 SRD Available in Markdown
16:51 D&D & RPG News: Patchwork Paladin on Lord of the Rings 5e Dissecting and Piecing Together 5e
21:11 Commentary: Gary Gygax's 25 Year D&D Predictions from 1999
35:41 Commentary: 25 Years of WOTC Making Fun of It's Own Products
39:46 Commentary: AI GMing Taken to the Logical Conclusion - Just Run the Whole Game For Us
42:22 DM Tip: Lightning Rods for Each 5e Class

Links

Court of Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 23

Fri, 16 May 2025 02:38:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Three 5E Systems in One Game – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 12 May 2025 03:36:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:55 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, COA Fulfillment, Artisanal Monster Database Updates
11:06 Commentary: Experiences Running Three 5e Systems in the Same Game
28:26 Commentary: Managing Character Options At Our Table
45:34 DM Tip: How to Run Stealth and Hiding in 5e
59:16 Patreon Question: The Intimacy and Focus of One-on-One Games

Links

The Scholar's Path – Dragon Empire Prep Session 22

Fri, 09 May 2025 02:28:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Chessex Battle Mat Deep Dive – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 05 May 2025 02:29:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:39 Sly Flourish News: Grendleroot for $5
02:56 Sly Flourish News: TOV Article, Patreon Benefits, New GM Card, COA Updates, Shadowdark Scenario
10:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Fury of the Forsaken by Lazy Wolf Studios
12:27 D&D & RPG News: Huge Pathfinder 2 Humble Bundle
15:49 D&D & RPG News: Sage Advice Column on D&D Beyond
19:58 Commentary: Paizo Flip Mat Basic Versus Chessex Battle Map
38:46 Patreon Question: Lazy Encounter Benchmark and Waves of Combatants
44:55 Patreon Question: Leveling Up Villains with Forge of Foes
47:34 Patreon Question: Managing Real-World Time In-Game
52:00 Patreon Question: Character Motivation in Shadowdark with high PC Turnover
58:06 Patreon Question: Managing Monster Difficulty in D20 / 5e Games

Links

Sunray – Dragon Empire Prep Session 21

Fri, 02 May 2025 02:42:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Is WOTC a Good Steward of D&D? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 03:41:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 Sly Flourish News: Ruins of the Grendleroot On Sale
04:42 Sly Flourish News: 5e Artisanal Monster Database Updated with D&D 2025 MM Monsters
07:42 Sly Flourish News: New Articles and Podcasts
10:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Knock Issue 5 from Merry Mushman
13:17 D&D & RPG News: 5.2 SRD Released into the Creative Commons
22:07 Commentary: What can GM's Do with the 5.2 SRD?
27:40 Commentary: A Look at Mike's Little Candles -- Is WOTC Being a Good Steward of the Hobby?
45:36 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 Errata
49:34 DM Tip: Using Physical Book At the Table

Links

Let's Make an Adventure with the City of Arches

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 02:29:00 -0400

Mike builds an adventure from one of the adventure prompts in the City of Arches!

Buy the City of Aches

Play D&D 6e Today – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 02:28:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:01 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches, Latest SF articles and podcasts, new CC material
12:15 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 5.2 System Reference Document on Tuesday
15:09 Commentary: Why the 5.2 SRD Matters to GMs
20:25 Commentary: Do we Need a 5.2 SRD in the OGL? No!
24:52 Commentary: How to Play D&D 6E Today!
31:49 DM Tip: Get Your Players to Play Other Systems
39:47 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Search More
44:56 Patreon Question: Grim Portents and Focusing On Your Next Game
49:04 Patreon Question: Revealing Secrets Through Sages
51:22 Patreon Question: What Sections Are Missing From Most GM Books? Monuments

Links

Graymist – Dragon Empire Prep Session 20

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 02:32:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

How RPGs Die – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 02:31:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:01:25 D&D & RPG News: Jeremy Crawford Leaves Wizards of the Coast
00:07:31 D&D & RPG News: State of the OSR Podcast
00:09:42 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Available in Hardcover in US and Canada
00:11:35 Sly Flourish News: SF Books for Friendly Local Game Shops through ACD
00:12:42 DM Tip: Running the D&D 2025 Monster Manual Beholder
00:24:25 Commentary: How do RPGs Die?
00:46:02 D&D & RPG News: One-on-One Adventures in Dragon Delves
00:49:42 DM Tip: Running One-on-One Games
00:54:52 Patreon Question: The Lazy GM Eight Steps on Index Cards
00:58:19 Patreon Question: Encounter Building for Three Characters
01:01:58 Patreon Question: Are 5e Systems Compatible and Which Would I Choose if I Had to Pick One?

Links

The Blackspire Heist – Dragon Empire Prep Session 19

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 03:52:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

WOTC Was Right! – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 02:21:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:01:26 Kickstarter Spotlight: Scepter of the Lightbringer
00:04:57 D&D & RPG News: Chris Perkins Leaves Wizards of the Coast
00:09:26 D&D & RPG News: Tariffs and TTRPGs
00:15:15 Commentary: BG3, Stardew Valley, and Thoughts About Copyright
00:30:18 D&D & RPG News: Level Up Gateway for Level Up Advanced 5e and the Current State of 5e Character Builders
00:36:24 DM Tip: Build a D&D 2024 Character On Paper in Ten Minutes
00:44:56 Patreon Question: Managing Perception and Passive Perception
00:50:08 Patreon Question: Describing Terrain Mechanics in Combat Encounters
00:54:14 Patreon Question: Managing Boring but Effective Character Strateies
00:58:43 Patreon Question: Introducing Old Monsters as New Monsters
01:01:46 Patreon Question: How Long to Get a Feel for a New RPG?

Links

Path to Blackspire – Dragon Empire Prep Session 18

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:16:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Memoirs of a Dracolich – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:19:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:17 Kickstarter Spotlight: Free5e
07:24 Kickstarter Spotlight: Alien RPG Evolved Edition
09:23 D&D & RPG News: New Miniatures for Sigil? Where's my Gold Dragon Docker??
14:01 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 5.2 System Reference Document Coming "Soon"
19:14 Commentary: Memoirs of a Dracolich
28:35 DM Tip: Slow, Medium, and Fast Initiative
32:03 Patreon Question: Promote Better Behavior for Online Play
35:56 Patreon Question: Choose Your Gamemaster's Guide
39:29 Patreon Question: Incentivizing Movement for Ranged Attackers
43:49 Patreon Question: Stealth and Hiding in D&D 2024
50:46 Patreon Question: Forge of Foes for Shadowdark?
52:18 Patreon Question: Lazy Encounter Benchmark for Tales of the Valiant

Links

Sigil's Demise – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:40:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:09 D&D & RPG News: Delta Green, Dragonlance, and Kobold Press Humble Bundles
00:05:22 Kickstarter Spotlight: Zaminora Ballad of the Witch
00:06:48 D&D & RPG News: Sigil's Demise
00:13:46 Commentary: Where's the 5.2 SRD?
00:16:40 Commentary: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Initial Thoughts
00:36:04 DM Tip: Defending Yourself Out of the Fun
00:57:03 Patreon Question: Catching Characters Up to Higher Level Adventures
00:59:23 Patreon Question: Running Heroic Adventures with Shadowdark
01:01:33 Patreon Question: Which Monster Book Do You Reach For?
01:05:19 Patreon Question: Experiences with Level Up Advanced 5e

Links

Shopping Cliffhanger – Dragon Empire Prep Session 17

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 02:16:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Shadowdark Love-Fest – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 02:15:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:06 Kickstarter Spotlight: Beyond the Woods
03:53 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadowdark Western Reaches
15:25 Commentary: Shadowdark Price Ranges and FOMO
22:53 Commentary: Where Shadowdark Sits Among 5e Games
32:18 DM Tip: House Rules for Shadowdark
38:45 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Hardcovers and the Key of Worlds Scenario Path
44:54 Sly Flourish News: Additions to the Lazy GM's Reference Document
49:49 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes on Audible
50:58 Patreon Question: Alternatives to Cultists
55:04 Patreon Question: Suggestions for Short Adventures and One-Shot Rewards

Links

The Sunless Stream – Dragon Empire Prep Session 16

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 02:41:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

RPGs I Want to Play – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 02:42:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:21 D&D & RPG News: Mork Borg Bundle of Holding
04:11 D&D & RPG News: Potbellied Kobold Bundle of Holding
05:03 D&D & RPG News: Dungeon Crawl Classics Humble Bundle
07:49 Kickstarter Spotlight: Secrets of Magic for Fateforge
10:29 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2025 Starter Set Info
15:44 Commentary: What WOTC Products Matter for the RPG Hobby?
17:42 Commentary: Sci Show on Science of Scheduling a D&D Game
23:14 D&D & RPG News: Bob World Builder on RPG Kickstarters
28:10 Commentary: RPGs I Want To Play
37:17 DM Tip: The Retreat Action
46:14 Patreon Question: How Does Fog Cloud Work with Advantage?
50:12 Patreon Question: The Eight Steps with Big Dungeons
52:45 Patreon Question: Players Forgetting Character Abilities
54:40 Patreon Question: Dealing with Players Whose Characters Run Ahead
59:35 Patreon Question: DM Screen on Small Table

Links

Shrine of Isis – Dragon Empire Prep Session 15

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:39:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Challenge Rating Deep Dive – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:39:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches in Markdown and EPUB
17:55 D&D & RPG News: Blog of Holding Monster Manual 2024 Stats in the Creative Commons
22:34 DM Tip: Challenge Rating Deep Dive
54:19 Patreon Question: Fantastic Locations in Contemporary Worlds

Links

The Red Portal Part 2 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 13

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 02:15:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

The End of One D&D – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 02:27:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:20 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Black Flag SRD in Markdown
04:20 Kickstarter Spotlight: Creating and Adapting Monsters for Shadowdark
06:11 D&D & RPG News: Mike Mearls on Dungeon Craft
08:03 Commentary: How Bonus Actions Changed
14:31 Commentary: GM-Focused Products as Advanced Software for Advanced Users
21:06 Commentary: Experiences with the D&D 2025 Monster Manual Adult Black Dragon
29:31 DM Tip: Legendary Resistance Alternatives
39:51 Commentary: The End of One D&D
49:02 Patreon Question: Running Frostmaiden with Shadowdark
51:58 Patreon Question: Additional Roles for Exploration
53:38 Patreon Question: Did I Negate Character Abilities and Take Away Player Agency?
56:08 Patreon Question: Should I Kill Shadowdark Characters with Big Backstory?
58:38 Patreon Question: Is Your YouTube Channel Dying?

Links

The Red Portal Part 1 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 12

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 03:03:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

D&D 2025 Monster Manual Deep Dive – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 02:59:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:58 Hexploration Decks
00:02:59 Mike on EN World and Kobold Press Podcasts
00:04:09 All Three D&D 2024 Core Books are Released
00:06:33 2024 Monster Manual is the Most Important DM-Focused D&D 2024 Book
00:07:46 Is the 2025 Monster Manual Better than the 2014 MM?
00:08:40 Is the D&D 2025 MM the Best 5e Monster Book?
00:12:30 Could It Have Been Better? Of Course.
00:14:36 Monsters Hit at Their Challenge Rating
00:19:59 Other Designers on the Monster Math
00:22:05 D&D 2025 Monster Manual Compared to Forge of Foes
00:25:56 2025 Monster Manual Effects Don't Negatively Impact Damage Anymore
00:28:04 Vampire
00:30:15 Requires Looking Up Spells
00:35:50 Cultist Fanatic
00:37:59 The Language of the 2025 Monster Manual
00:39:47 No Orcs, Drow, or Duergar
00:50:56 Static Initiative Scores
00:54:16 Crappy Treasure "Tables"
00:56:29 Crappy Ability Score Tables
01:00:05 Awesome Contextual Random Tables
01:03:01 Alphabetically Sorted Most of the Time
01:05:31 What Else Is Missing?
01:06:38 Day 1 Errata
01:07:55 Final Thoughts

Links

Ziggurat of Thoth-Hermes – Dragon Empire Prep Session 11

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 03:08:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

D&D 2025 Monster Manual First Look – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 04:06:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:02:11 Product Spotlight: Horizon Magazine
00:07:31 D&D & RPG News: Alphastream on 2025 D&D Monster Manual Math
00:09:31 Commentary: D&D at Madison Square Garden
00:13:28 D&D & RPG News: Mike Mearls and Ray Winninger on the Past and Future of D&D 5e
00:15:42 Product Spotlight: 2025 Monster Manual Initial Thoughts
00:27:56 Product Spotlight: D&D 2025 Monster Manual Lich
00:32:28 DM Tip: Avoid Getting Caught in the Zeitgeist
00:44:13 Patreon Spotlight: Talk Show and Patreon Q&A Databases
00:47:13 Patreon Question: What D&D Classes and Features Do I Ban?
00:52:19 Patreon Question: Making Flat Paper Character Minis
00:54:34 Patreon Question: Dealing with Agency-Stealing Effects like Stun
01:00:32 Patreon Question: Basic Rules or 5.1 SRD for New Players

Links

Blood Magic – Dragon Empire Prep Session 10

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 05:53:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Independent Spaces for RPG Discourse – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:55:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:15 Kickstarter Spotlight: Weapons of Lore by Jeff Stevens
00:03:46 Kickstarter Spotlight: Gate Pass Gazette by EN World Publishing
00:07:32 D&D & RPG News: Mike on Kobold Press Talking Doom Points
00:09:50 D&D & RPG News: Ray Winninger Interview with Stan! on YouTube
00:23:06 D&D & RPG News: No Roll20 Tales of the Valiant Character Builder
00:34:36 Commentary: Thoughts from the Philidelphia Area Gaming Expo
00:48:20 Commentary: RPG Communities on Independent Spaces
01:05:54 Patreon Question: Can I Submit Your Book to Adobe's AI Tool?

Links

The Puzzle Box – Dragon Empire Prep Session 9

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 03:59:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Monster Manual Concerns – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 02:58:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:01:11 Kickstarter Spotlight: Monster Vault 2 by Kobold Press
00:08:23 Product Spotlight: Crit Happens iOS Dice Roller
00:10:32 Kickstarter Spotlight: Free5e
00:15:54 Product Spotlight: Sly Flourish Newsletter Adventure Generator and One-Page 5e
00:20:49 Commentary: 2025 Monster Manual Videos
00:44:24 Commentary: What Do I Want From WOTC After the Monster Manual?
00:49:07 DM Tip: When and How to Fudge Your Game
00:59:41 Patreon Question: Monster Dials for Non-5e Games
01:01:47 Patreon Question: Alternative Initiative Options

Links

Unending Thirst Part 2 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 8

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 03:52:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

OGL Fiasco Two Years Later – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 02:51:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:00 D&D & RPG News: Most Anticipated RPGs of 2025
11:55 Commentary: Two Year Anniversary of the OGL Crisis
32:54 Patreon Spotlight: Talk Show Database with 2,000 Topics
38:28 DM Tip: Improvisation and the Eight Steps
51:29 Patreon Question: Lightning Rods for Control Wizards
57:06 Patreon Question: Running for a Mix of Online and Offline Players
59:54 Patreon Question: Homebrewing Character Buffs

Links

Pit of Unending Thirst – Dragon Empire Prep Session 7

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 02:24:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Monster Overhaul Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 03:24:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 D&D & RPG News: Goodman Games DCC Bundle of Holding
03:20 D&D & RPG News: Humblewood and Heckna Pay What You Want
05:57 Sly Flourish News: Whitesparrow and the Night Blades in the CC
09:55 D&D & RPG News: Goodman Games 5e System - Advanced Advantage
13:57 Product Spotlight: Monster Overhaul
22:57 Commentary: Thoughts on Foundry
36:38 DM Tip: 3-2-1 Quest Model
44:07 Patreon Question: Dealing with the Strain of GMing
49:28 Patreon Question: Balancing Types of Secrets
52:06 Patreon Question: Which Books Do You Take With You?

Links

2024 TTRPGs Year in Review – Lazy RPG Talk Show Special

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 03:06:00 -0500

Mike looks back over a year in the TTRPG hobby!

00:00 Show Start
02:19 100 Games in 2024
03:16 D&D 2024 PHB and DMG Released
05:00 Tales of the Valiant
07:03 Black Flag System Reference Document
10:06 2024 D&D on Foundry, Fantasy Grounds, and Roll20
13:35 Shadow of the Weird Wizard
14:37 Third Party Publishers on D&D Beyond
22:41 Shadowdark
23:25 City of Arches
25:24 RPGs and Generative AI
27:11 TTRPG People Moving to Bluesky
31:24 Other Non-Shittified TTRPG Platforms
33:59 Other WOTC Corporate Stuff and Bob World Builder's Survey
40:10 Looking Forward to 2025
45:42 Top Ten Sly Flourish Articles of 2024

Links

Notable Sections of the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 02:04:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:09 D&D & RPG News: Cities Without Number Bundle of Holding
07:51 D&D & RPG News: Shadowrun Bundle of Holding
08:58 D&D & RPG News: Join the Arcane Library Newsletter for Two Free Adventures
11:02 DM Tip: GM Resources in Markdown for Obsidian
25:27 DM Tip: Use the Obsidian Web Clipper to Save Web Pages
29:31 Sly Flourish News: Free Dice Roller Web App
35:23 Commentary: Notable Sections of the 2024 D&D Dungeon Master's Guide
59:44 Patreon Question: Pondering Conclusions for Sandbox Games
01:02:55 Patreon Question: Using a Big Monitor on a Gaming Table
01:04:37 Patreon Question: Advice for Bridge and Travel Sessions

Links

Eryz the Akinji – Dragon Empire Prep Session 6

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 02:48:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Tales of the Valiant Game Master's Guide Walkthrough – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 02:46:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:03 D&D & RPG News: One Ring Bundle of Holding
03:57 D&D & RPG News: Haunted West 50% Off
04:52 Commentary: Running Mixed 5e Characters
20:18 DM Tip: Avoid the 2024 DMG's Enspelled Magic Items
33:14 Product Spotlight: Tales of the Valiant Game Master's Guide

Links

Ruins of Blood and Sand – Dragon Empire Prep Session 5

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 02:19:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

High-Use RPG Products – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 02:18:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:12 D&D & RPG News: Level Up Gateway Alpha Released
07:42 Product Spotlight: A5e.Tools
10:36 D&D & RPG News: Lord of the Rings 5e Not Independent
14:59 D&D & RPG News: So You Wanna Roleplay
16:48 Commentary: The Products We Continually Use at the Table
40:15 Sly Flourish News: 20% off Sly Flourish Books!
41:38 Sly Flourish News: New Quarterly Patreon Q&A
44:33 Patreon Question: Worldbuilding Off-Screen Towns and Settlements
47:33 Patreon Question: Relating CR to the Monster's Fiction
51:23 Patreon Question: Will "Update Available" overwrite my D&D Beyond Stuff?
55:29 Patreon Question: What Do You Think of the 4th Edition Dungeon Master's Guide?
01:00:42 Patreon Question: Full-Power Characters Showing Up Deep in Dungeons

Links

Kukkutarma – Dragon Empire Prep Session 5

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 02:21:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

2024 RPG Gift Guide – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 02:20:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:23 D&D & RPG News: Scott Gray on Points of Interest
03:11 Sly Flourish News: Mike's Going to the Philidelphia Area Game Expo!
04:24 D&D & RPG News: Lord of the Rings on D&D Beyond
10:11 Commentary: Building a Resilient Hobby when Elon Musk Threatens to Buy It
12:01 D&D & RPG News: Half-Off Lord of the Rings from Free League
13:58 Commentary: More Thoughts on a Resilient TTRPG Hobby
16:06 Sly Flourish News: 20% Off Sly Flourish Books
17:49 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant Pocket Editions
19:07 D&D & RPG News: Free League Sales
20:31 D&D & RPG News: Old School Essentials Sale
23:16 D&D & RPG News: Free League Bundle of Holding
24:12 D&D & RPG News: Heroforge Custom Flat Acrylic Miniatures
26:36 Commentary: The Best Value in TTRPG Accessories
31:38 DM Tip: The Dangers of Crafting Magic Items in the D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide
43:18 Patreon Question: Organizing and Tracking Monsters in 5e Combat
47:54 Patreon Question: Getting Into Alien Minds
50:24 Patreon Question: The Resolution of Fantastic Locations
53:16 Patreon Question: Understanding Scenes and Locations

Links

The Smuggler's Trade Route – Dragon Empire Prep Session 4

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 02:23:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Elon Musk Tells WOTC to Burn in Hell – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 03:22:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:15 D&D & RPG News: Lazy RPG Talk Show Number One D&D Podcast by D&D Fanatics
02:32 D&D & RPG News: Professor Dungeon Master on the 2024 DMG
04:55 D&D & RPG News: DM David on a 25 year D&D Wish List
08:53 Commentary: Elon Musk tells WOTC to Burn In Hell
19:55 DM Tip: Anatomy of a Situation -- Red Eagle Tower
41:45 Patreon Spotlight: Tomb of the War King Scenario
47:18 Patreon Question: Favorite Monster Abilities of Players
51:23 Patreon Question: Building Your Own Campaign Outlines
53:28 Patreon Question: Tips for Playing In-Person Games

Links

The Valley of Blood – Dragon Empire Prep Session 3

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 02:58:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Hard Truths About Crowdfunded RPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:13 D&D & RPG News: Mike on EN World Podcast Talking about the 2024 DMG
02:51 D&D & RPG News: Pathfinder 2 Humble Bundle
05:38 D&D & RPG News: Phantasy Star RPG Preorder
06:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: A5E Monstrous Menagerie 2
08:14 Commentary: Hard Truths About Crowdfunded RPGs
25:20 Commentary: Comparing DMG 2024 Advice to Lazy DM Advice
40:19 Patreon Question: Character Home Bases
44:45 Patreon Question: Set Piece Battles or Theater of the Mind?
49:10 Patreon Question: Best After-Session Notes
51:00 Patreon Question: Improving NPC Voices While Roleplaying

Links

The Desert Heist – Dragon Empire Session 1 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 02:51:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Session Prep and Encounter Building in the D&D 2024 DMG – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 03:52:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:21 D&D & RPG News: Blades in the Dark Deep Cuts
03:37 Commentary: What Do You Need to Prep Your Session?
36:52 Commentary: Encounter Building in the D&D 2024 DMG and the Lazy Encounter Benchmark

Links

The Ghost Walkers – Dragon Empire Session 1 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 03:09:00 -0500

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

2024 D&D Dungeon Master's Guide Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 02:08:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:15 Kickstarter Spotlight: Draconics the Peaceful Way to Play 5e
03:21 Kickstarter Spotlight: Wondrous Worlds by Nord Games
05:16 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 Free Rules Givith and then Taketh Away
09:28 Commentary: D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide Thoughts and the Four Gamemaster's Guides
34:07 DM Tip: Avoid NPC Betrayals
44:59 Patreon Question: Favorite Short Adventure Books
47:52 Patreon Question: Expanding a GM's Reading List
49:18 Patreon Question: Focusing on Prep for the Next Session
51:09 Patreon Question: Needing to Improvise with Shadowdark
54:01 Patreon Question: Top House Rules for Shadowdark
57:03 Patreon Question: The Urgency of Multiple Quest Hooks # [01:00:50 Patreon Question: Where to End Shadowdark Sessions

Links

Scourge of the Dragon Empire Session Zero – Lazy RPG Prep

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 02:28:00 -0400

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

Experiences at Gamehole Con – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 02:31:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:16 Product Spotlight: Defiler of Moonsilk Keep
03:44 Product Spotlight: Horizons Magazine Issue 1
06:25 Product Spotlight: Frontiers of Eberron
12:35 Kickstarter Spotlight: Adventures in Teaching and Learning with TTRPGs
14:27 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dwarven Forge Dungeons Reforged
24:25 Commentary: Experiences at Gamehole Con
34:20 DM Tip: Pool Table Game Mastering
45:43 Patreon Question: What Makes a Great Monster Book
51:44 Patreon Question: Running Big Timed Events in Scenes

Links

One Year with Shadowdark

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 02:57:00 -0400

Mike discusses his experiences running the Shadowdark RPG for a year

Shadowdark Gloaming Conclusion

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 02:59:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

The Trouble with Crafting – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:17 D&D & RPG News: Call of Cthulhu Humbled Bundle
04:40 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Key of Worlds Scenarios for Hero-Tier Subscribers
12:28 Product Spotlight: Dread Thingonomicon Markdown for Obsidian
16:19 Sly Flourish News: Lazy GM Reference Guides in Markdown for Obsidian
20:23 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish 2025 Calendar!
22:00 Commentary: The Trouble with Crafting Systems in 5e
36:37 DM Tip: Advanced Random Encounter Tricks
49:46 Patreon Question: Adding Subquests and Managing Levels with Campaign Arcs
54:04 Patreon Question: Keeping Combat Descriptions Flavorful
57:17 Patreon Question: Designing a Heroic Shadowdark-Style Game

Links

Mugdulblub – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 44 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 03:43:00 -0400

Prep for the finale of Mike's Shadowdark Gloaming campaign!

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Kobold Press Encounter Builder – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 03:42:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:20 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish After-School RPG Club Sponsorship
07:44 D&D & RPG News: Free Kobold Press Encounter Builder
11:11 D&D & RPG News: Dread Thingonomicon Bundle of Holding for $8
13:52 D&D & RPG News: Goodman Games Humble Bundle
16:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Grim Hollow Transformed Kickstarter
19:15 D&D & RPG News: Ars Magica in a Creative Commons License
26:33 DM Tip: Two Bandits Talking About the Characters
31:28 Patreon Question: Single Best Tip for New GMs
38:24 Patreon Question: What If Characters Don't Strike Lighting Rods?
44:12 Patreon Question: D&D 2024 Tool DCs and DM Agency
50:18 Patreon Question: Can You Mix TOV, A5e, D&D 2024, and D&D 2014?

Links

Dragon Empire Campaign Building Part 2 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 02:22:00 -0400

Mike begins his campaign prep for his Dragon Empire Midgard-based Tales of the Valiant campaign!

D&D 2024 Secret Subclass Compatibility Rules – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:23:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:30 Kickstarter Spotlight: Enter the Labyrinth by Kobold Press
05:15 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dragontown and the Darkness Below
11:03 D&D & RPG News: Horizons Magazine by Wildmage Press
12:16 D&D & RPG News: Beadle and Grimm 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide Map Pack
14:04 D&D & RPG News: 2024 Player's Handbook is D&D's Fastest Selling Book Ever
18:22 Commentary: You Don't Own Your D&D Beyond Books
21:24 D&D & RPG News: Hidden Subclass Compatibility in D&D 2024
27:32 Commentary: The Current State of Generative AI and TTRPGs
46:23 Patreon Question: Industry Standards for Releasing RPG Material Under Open Licenses
52:03 Patreon Question: Coming Up with Villains or Fronts in Strange Campaign Settings
54:36 Patreon Question: Excluding a Player from a Game

Links

Return to Bittermold Keep – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 43 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 03:13:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

D&D 2024 Tool DCs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 02:10:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:16 D&D & RPG News: Roll20 Packages for Doctors Without Borders
03:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Pirate Borg
09:06 DM Tip: Run I6 Ravenloft with Shadowdark on Halloween
10:45 D&D & RPG News: Free D&D 2024 Rules with All Twelve Classes
13:20 D&D & RPG News: D&D Adventurer's League Moves to D&D 2024
26:13 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 PHB Available Physically and on Four VTTs
33:55 DM Tip: D&D 2024's Handling of Tools and DCs
41:02 DM Tip: Two Words for Increasing Combat Challenge
51:06 Patreon Question: What's My Next Campaign?
53:26 Patreon Question: Upward and Downward Beats in a Campaign
57:46 Patreon Question: Why Switch to Obsidian?

Links

Dragon Empire Campaign Building – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 03:05:00 -0400

Mike begins his campaign prep for his Dragon Empire Midgard-based Tales of the Valiant campaign!

Four Histories of D&D – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 02:06:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:16 Kickstarter Spotlight: Worldographer 2025 by Inkwell Ideas
00:03:36 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadow City Mysteries
00:04:53 Product Spotlight: Level Up Advanced 5e on Bundle of Holding
00:10:46 D&D & RPG News: MCDM's License for Draw Steel
00:17:33 Product Spotlight: Shadowdark Guide to Monster Statistics by Matt Dietrich
00:22:14 Commentary: Four Sources of D&D History
00:44:16 DM Tip: Instant Monsters for 5e
00:59:02 Patreon Question: Handling Back Seat Driving Veteran Players
01:03:17 Patreon Question: Running the City of Arches with Shadowdark
01:05:40 Patreon Question: Managing Secrets with Multiple Paths Ahead
01:08:09 Patreon Question: Building Single-Session Episodic Adventures

Links

Haldrin the Lich – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 42 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 04:56:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

2024 D&D for Free – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:55:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:13 Sly Flourish News: Mike Loses a Bet
02:59 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 and Free D&D on D&D Beyond
14:06 D&D & RPG News: Rich Lescoulflair Talking Phantasy Star RPG on Morrus's Podcast
15:42 D&D & RPG News: Matt Coleville on Eldritch Lorecast Talking About Project Sigil
19:35 D&D & RPG News: Free Hex Crawl Rules from Cursed Scroll 4
23:26 Product Spotlight: Broken Weave for 5e by Cubicle 7
36:24 DM Tip: Distance, Activity, and Attitude for Random Encounters
48:18 Patreon Question: Rewriting Published Adventures for Table Use
52:09 Patreon Question: Building Your Own Pantheon
55:38 Patreon Question: Using the Eight Steps for Published Adventures

Links

Haldrin's Tower – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 41 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 02:38:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Knave 2 Deep Dive – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 02:36:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:01:49 D&D & RPG News: Follow Up on D&D 2014 Material in D&D Beyond
00:05:59 D&D & RPG News: Lost Worlds of Gygax Humble Bundle
00:10:46 D&D & RPG News: D&D Direct Announcements
00:19:48 Product Spotlight: Knave 2 by Ben Milton
00:41:12 DM Tip: Twelve Types of Medieval Artwork and Architecture for Dungeon Delving
00:53:50 Patreon Question: Convincing New Players to Try a New System
00:57:09 Patreon Question: 18 Months Since Other Publishers Published on D&D Beyond
01:05:04 Patreon Question: Using City of Arches with Theros
01:06:38 Patreon Question: Empire of the Ghouls Out of Print
01:08:41 Patreon Question: Favorite Sourcebook and Setting

Links

Return to the Gloaming – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 40 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 02:08:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Let's Build a Character with Shadowdark

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 02:59:00 -0400

Mike builds a 1st level character in the Shadowdark RPG.

D&D Beyond Removes D&D 2014 Material – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 03:10:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:30 D&D & RPG News: D&D Designers of All Editions Talk About and Play D&D
06:05 D&D & RPG News: Kelsey Dionne of Shadowdark on Morrus's Unofficial Tabletop RPG Podcast
07:04 Commentary: WOTC Removes 2014 Spells, Items, and Rules from the D&D Beyond Character Builder
28:06 DM Tip: Track the Characters
42:07 Patreon Question: Running Short Games for Large Groups
46:14 Patreon Question: Favorite D&D 2024 Rule?
48:47 Patreon Question: Running Mastermind and Dark Nemesis Bosses
51:49 Patreon Question: Releasing the Forge of Foes Generic Monster Stats into the CC
57:47 Patreon Question: What's In your DM - GM Kit?

Links

Let's Build a Character with Tales of the Valiant

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 02:56:00 -0400

Mike builds a 1st level character with Tales of the Valiant!

Free League Removes PDFs from Alchemy – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:09:55 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:35 Kickstarter Spotlight: Horror at Devil's Run on Foundry
03:34 D&D & RPG News: Rob Heinsoo on Gnomecast
05:09 D&D & RPG News: Free League Publishing Pulls PDFs from the Alchemy VTT
19:34 Product Spotlight: Thrones and Bones Player's Guide by Lazy Wolf Studios
25:36 D&D & RPG News: Letters to Washington Post About D&D
28:14 DM Tip: Running an Infiltration in Summervine Villa
49:54 Patreon Question: Do We Need to Change Forge of Foes and the Lazy Encounter Benchmark for D&D 2024?
59:59 Patreon Question: Can a Paid DM Run Your Books?

Links

Let's Build a Character with Level Up Advanced 5e

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 02:06:00 -0400

Mike builds a 1st level character with Level Up Advanced 5e!

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:13 What Is Level Up Advanced 5e?
06:00 The Step to Build a Character
07:02 Building a Character's Origin
09:52 Heritage Details
14:08 Culture Details
16:15 Background Details
18:46 Choosing a Destiny
21:22 Choosing an Adventure Class
30:31 Skill Specializations
32:34 Choosing Ability Scores
34:12 Equipping Weapons and Armor

Blur-Gate Update – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 03:04:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Amazing Encounters and Dungeons
05:15 Kickstarter Spotlight: The Perilous Void
06:23 Commentary: Follow-Up on Blurring 2024 D&D PHB Videos
13:11 Sly Flourish News: Mike on Morrus's Unofficial Tabletop Podcast on Blurgate and Project Sigil - the D&D 3D VTT
13:55 Sly Flourish News: More Character Builds with Tales of the Valiant and Shadowdark
14:30 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Designers on Eldritch Lorecast
15:55 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant on Herolab and Shard
20:54 Sly Flourish News: Biomes of the City of Arches
29:03 Patreon Question: Bifurcation of the Hobby Between 3d Online and Tabletop Play
35:51 Patreon Question: Handling Simultanous Events
38:54 Patreon Question: Is a D&D Beyond Content Subscription Service Acceptable?
43:13 Patreon Question: D&D 2024 PHB or Shadowdark?

Links

Ruined Temple of St. Taragnis – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 39 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 02:51:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Let's Make a D&D 2024 Character!

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:25:00 -0400

Mike builds a character with the new D&D 2024 Player's Handbook

Show Start

- 00:00 Video Start
- 01:17 Disclaimers
- 01:44 Making a Character Sheet
- 03:15 Creating a Character First Steps
- 04:08 Choosing a Class
- 07:51 Most Important Character Building Tip
- 09:44 Spells
- 19:56 Choosing a Background
- 26:09 Equipment
- 32:25 Species
- 36:41 Character Backstory Stuff
- 37:27 Languages
- 38:45 Determine Ability Scores
- 42:09 Appearances
- 44:41 Passive Perception
- 47:37 Calculating Weapon Attacks and Damage
- 51:03 Other Details
- 53:34 Final Thoughts

WOTC Made Me Blur My D&D 2024 Videos – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 03:49:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:07 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Kickstarter!
02:18 Kickstarter Spotlight: Victoriana 5e by Cubicle 7
05:12 Commentary: WOTC Made Me Blur My D&D 2024 Videos
25:09 D&D & RPG News: Shadowdark Wins Four ENNIES!
26:34 Commentary: Survive a Future Digital D&D
43:21 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Campaign Outlines
51:31 Patreon Question: Maps and Mapping At the Table
54:23 Patreon Question: What Makes the City of Arches Unique?
58:29 Patreon Question: Awarding Treasure to Specific Characters

Links

The Forgotten God – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 38 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:44:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

D&D 2024 Player's Handbook Walkthrough

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:47:00 -0400

Mike dives deep into the D&D 2024 Player's Handbook!

Show Contents

00:00 Intro
01:58 Disclaimers
02:42 Big Thoughts Up Front
03:35 Should You Buy It?
05:55 What Do I Love?
10:11 What Do I Not Love?
15:25 No Cultures, Just Species
19:46 Other Things Not Fixed
22:26 On Compatibility
27:08 Things May Be in the DMG But I Wouldn't Know
27:49 Good for New Players?
34:49 How's the Art?
36:11 The Best Improvement in D&D 2024
37:33 New Mechanical Language and "Utilize"
40:18 No Downtime
41:49 No Gods
43:11 Not Enough On Session Zeros and Safety Tools
46:06 Backgrounds and Character Optimization
50:48 I Love the Conjure Spells
53:10 Lucky
55:27 The Awesome Rules Glossary
57:41 Marching Order
58:04 What Your Character Would Do
58:45 Final Thoughts

The Short Rise and Long Fall of TSR – Lazy RPG Talk Show v3

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 06:33:20 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:22 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Kickstarter Next Week!
02:43 D&D & RPG News: Lots of D&D 2024 Info Next Week
03:51 D&D & RPG News: Solodark Solo-play Video by Kelsey Dionne
06:12 D&D & RPG News: When We Were Wizards Podcast
19:19 Kickstarter Spotlight: Nimble 5e
26:58 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Obsidian Skull Walkthrough
38:40 DM Tip: Handling Questions of Morality in TTRPGs
51:38 Patreon Question: Players Suspicious of Potentially Betraying NPCs

Links

The Death of Moragin – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 37 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 02:28:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

The Level Up Gateway 5e Character Builder – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 02:22:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:21 D&D & RPG News: ENnie Voting Goes Live!
02:27 Product Spotlight: Dyson Maps Bundle of Holding
05:09 D&D & RPG News: Level Up Gateway Online Character Builder
22:52 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Kickstarter Coming August 6th
35:00 Commentary: Top Ten Lazy 5e Tricks
54:46 Patreon Question: What Would I do If I Was In Charge of D&D?
58:19 Patreon Question: Magic Numbers to Keep In Your Head

Links

Ulgar – Champion of Ramlaat – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 36 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 04:29:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Getting D&D's Modularity Back – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:28:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:21 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Kickstart Coming August 6th!
07:54 D&D & RPG News: The Negative Feedback of D&D Beyond's Exclusive Offers
21:27 Commentary: The Lost Modularity of D&D and How to Get it Back
35:41 Commentary: Is Shadowdark the Best D&D Starter Set?
49:07 Patreon Spotlight: The SlyFlourish.com Downloadable Archive
52:12 Patreon Question: Lazy DMing with Virtual Tabletops (VTTs)
56:07 Patreon Question: How Do We Feel About D&D 2024?

Links

Last Watch – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 35 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 02:08:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

"Frustrating for Dungeon Masters" – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 03:12:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 D&D & RPG News: Dyson's Delves Bundle of Holding
04:19 D&D & RPG News: Monte Cook Games 50% off 5e Products
07:26 Sly Flourish News: Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master On Sale for 50% off
09:09 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 Class Videos
10:04 Commentary: 2024 D&D Needed a DM Advocate
17:45 Commentary: WOTC Says the Quiet Part Out Loud: "Frustrating for Dungeon Masters"
24:10 Commentary: Is Tales of the Valiant the 2024 D&D We Want?
26:23 Commentary: Comparing Four Versions of 5e
38:52 DM Tip: Expanding Tales of the Valiant's Doom Points
49:15 Patreon Question: Running Games for Young Neurodivergent Kids
53:59 Patreon Question: Comparing Monster Spellcaster Styles
59:40 Patreon Question: Asking Questions to Players Without Tipping Your Hand
01:02:59 Patreon Question: Tips for On-Call Players and Their Characters
01:04:45 Patreon Question: Tips for Evaluating Published Adventures
01:10:39 Patreon Question: Missing Stat Block Info when Running Monsters
01:13:35 Patreon Question: Why Are Gaming PDFs Crappy for So Many Devices? Publishers, Publish ePub!

Links

War on Nighthaven – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 34 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 02:30:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

2024 D&D Backward Compatibility – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 03:30:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:38 Product Spotlight: Esper Genesis on Bundle of Holding
02:35 Product Spotlight: Magic Item Card Generator by Inkwell Ideas
04:30 D&D & RPG News: 2024 D&D Core Book Videos
08:39 Commentary: D&D 2024 Monster Stat Block -- Yuck
14:10 Commentary: The 2024 D&D Players Handbook is the Only Book that Matters
17:53 Commentary: The Specifics of D&D 2024 Compatibility with 5e
29:56 D&D & RPG News: Mobile Character Builder for D&D 2024 on Roll20
32:12 Sly Flourish News: Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master On Sale
33:17 DM Tip: Use NPC Archetypes from a Single Show
40:50 Patreon Question: What Digital Tools Would Help Us?
46:57 Patreon Question: Managing Teleportation in Campaigns
52:57 Patreon Question: How Would I Run Vecna Eve of Ruin
59:48 Patreon Question: How Do You Run Maps?

Links

Skull of Memnon – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 33 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:41:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

More Purple More Better – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:42:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:18 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Begins Posting to EN World
04:15 Product Spotlight: Solodark for Shadowdark RPG
09:10 Product Spotlight: More Purple More Better Character Builder for 5e
22:43 Patreon Spotlight: 5e Artisanal Monster Database
27:23 DM Tip: Finding Players and Building a Resilient Group
41:24 Patreon Question: Allowing Alternative Character Options
44:18 Patreon Question: Uses for Generative AI and RPGs -- Is it Cheating?

Links

Vault of Memnon – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 32 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 02:45:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Roll20 Buys Demiplane – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 02:12:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:01 Commentary: Happy Pride Month
01:33 Commentary: How to Get More Engagement on YouTube!
02:18 D&D & RPG News: Roll20 Buys Demiplane
12:43 Kickstarter Spotlight: Voidrunner for 5e by EN World Publishing
16:27 Patreon Spotlight: Infiltration of Bonespur Keep
19:46 DM Tip: Organize Your Gaming PDFs
27:59 DM Tip: Searching PDFs on MacOS
30:49 DM Tip: Search PDFs with Finder on the Mac
32:20 DM Tip: Alfred for Searching PDFs on a Mac
34:18 DM Tip: Search PDFs with Ripgrep All
38:25 Patreon Question: Getting Excited for Longform Campaigns
42:17 Patreon Question: Contingencies for TPKs

Links

Nighthaven – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 31 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 03:32:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Are Actual Play Games Building False Expectations? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 01:49:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:05 D&D & RPG News: Cover Art for 2024 D&D Dungeon Master's Guide
03:10 D&D & RPG News: Sly Flourish and Elderbrain Video on Adventure Design
04:24 Commentary: Are Actual Plays Building False Expectations?
21:04 Patreon Spotlight: Dwarven Forge Virtual Tabletop Backdrops
29:13 DM Tip: Leaving Blanks
45:06 Patreon Question: GM Tips for Players
48:18 Patreon Question: Managing Monster Stat Blocks
51:21 Patreon Question: Integrating Prophecies and Fate into D&D Games
53:42 Patreon Question: Medium-Length Campaigns
56:58 Patreon Question: Players Projecting Micro-Aggressions
59:59 Patreon Question: Commiting Time and Energy to Prep a Game

Links

The Vile Well – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 30 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 31 May 2024 03:36:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

5e Combat Survey Results – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 May 2024 02:43:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:02 Kickstarter Spotlight: Iskandar Adventures Volume 1
04:40 Product Spotlight: Torrents of the Spellhoarder by Elderbrain
09:40 D&D & RPG News: Rob Heinsoo on Mastering Dungeons
11:55 D&D & RPG News: Scroll for Initiative on Pass Without Trace
18:12 D&D & RPG News: Bob World Builder on Gridded, Abstract Maps, and Theater of the Mind
20:47 Commentary: New Poll Results on Combat Styles
24:44 DM Tip: The Lost Art of Abstract Maps
36:15 Patreon Question: Running a Quick Conclusion to a Campaign
40:00 Patreon Question: Are Secrets Always True?
41:09 Patreon Question: Upward Beats for Dungeons
45:18 Patreon Question: Appropriate Challenges, Quests, and Adventures for 1st Lvel Characters
47:29 Patreon Question: Taking Away the Characters' Stuff
50:48 Patreon Question: Buying Material Multiple Times on Different Platforms

Links

The Green Knight Queen – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 29 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 24 May 2024 03:48:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Tales of the Valiant on Shard VTT – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 20 May 2024 02:47:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:24 D&D & RPG News: Cypher Humble Bundle -- $570 of books for $25
04:31 D&D & RPG News: New Covers and Greyhawk in 2024 D&D Books
11:35 D&D & RPG News: Support Victims of Rio Grande Flooding with this $20 RPG Bundle
12:48 D&D & RPG News: Rob Heinsoo Interview on La Taberna de Rol
15:56 Product Spotlight: Tales of the Labyrinth by Kobold Press
23:15 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant on Shard Tabletop
36:08 Patreon Spotlight: Myre's End Adventure for Patrons
39:23 Commentary: One Night with Level Up Advanced 5e
56:44 Patreon Question: Three House Rules for Shadowdark RPG

Links

Tier-Ranking D&D and RPG Campaigns

Fri, 17 May 2024 02:06:00 -0400

Mike ranks ten years worth of campaigns from S through F tier.

00:00 Show Start
01:18 Goal: Define Criteria for Evaluating Future Campaigns
02:58 Tier Ranking Ground Rules
06:28 Beginning the Tier Rankings
06:41 Shadow of the Demon Lord
07:28 Numenera
09:39 Rime of the Frost Maiden
11:29 Wild Beyond the Witchlight
12:35 Blades in the Dark
14:08 Curse of Strahd
15:29 Descent into Avernus
18:17 Eberron Rising from the Last War
19:01 Empire of the Ghouls
20:22 Ghosts of Saltmarsh
22:21 Hoard of the Dragon Queen
23:10 Dragons of Icespire Peak
25:33 Lost Mine of Phandelver
27:07 Out of the Abyss
28:40 Princes of the Apocalypse
29:23 Rise of Tiamat
29:56 Scarlet Citadel
32:04 Gloaming: Cursed Scroll 1
33:45 Shadowed Keep of the Borderlands
35:15 Storm King's Thunder
37:39 Tomb of Annihilation
39:56 Waterdeep Dragon Heist
41:50 Spelljammer: Light of Xaryxis
45:53 Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
47:14 Campaign Tier-Ranking Summary
49:36 What Did I Learn?
51:07 Product Design Matters More than Production Quality

Links

Visit the Sly Flourish Blog
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Podcast
Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Buy Sly Flourish Books: https://shop.slyflourish.com/
Final Tier Ranking Image
Tiermaker SF Campaign Tier Link
Shadow of the Demon Lord
Numenera
Blades in the Dark
Gloaming: Cursed Scroll 1
Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands (affiliate link)
Empire of the Ghouls (affiliate link)
Scarlet Citadel (affiliate link)
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle (affiliate link)
Curse of Strahd (affiliate link)
Wild Beyond the Witchlight (affiliate link)

D&D 2024 Rules in the Creative Commons – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 13 May 2024 04:31:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:48 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Announces the Upcoming Release of 2024 Rules in the Creative Commons
05:28 D&D & RPG News: Black Flag SRD Released Under ORC
09:57 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant Released to Backers
16:13 Kickstarter Spotlight: Oracle Monster Generator by Nord Games
17:53 Kickstarter Spotlight: 13th Age version 2
19:00 D&D & RPG News: Nine Perfect Things for Your D&D Games
20:48 D&D & RPG News: Why Cults Are Awesome
23:10 Commentary: Why Open Licenses Matter to GMs
38:49 Patreon Question: Games Getting Too Complex Above 10th Level
42:18 Patreon Question: Getting Players Excited for Homebrewed Campaigns
45:11 Patreon Question: What Drains Your Energy In Your Games?

Links

Horned Devil Bakis – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 28 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 10 May 2024 03:33:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

D&D & WOTC Survey Results! – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 May 2024 02:32:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Impressions by Gnome Stew
02:32 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Stops Selling A La Carte Items on D&D Beyond
11:08 Commentary: Bob World Builder D&D and WOTC Popularity Survey Results
27:42 Kickstarter Spotlight: Delve by Bob World Builder
29:32 Patreon Spotlight: Regnum Rattus the Rats in the Cellar
31:53 Sly Flourish News: 4,000+ DM Tips in the Creative Commons
34:17 Product Spotlight: The GMs Miscellany by Raging Swan
38:16 Commentary: Being a Good Steward of the RPG Hobby
49:15 Patreon Question: Should a New DM Run Fateforged?
51:09 Patreon Question: How to Expose Midgard and Big Campaign Settings to Players?
54:56 Patreon Question: Handling a TPK in Witchlight

Links

Myre Castle Ruins - Shadowdark Gloaming Session 27 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 03 May 2024 02:57:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Should You Rent Your RPG Books? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 03:51:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:23 D&D & RPG News: Roll20 and Discord Integration
05:12 D&D & RPG News: Alphastream on the Summit One Year Later
09:02 Product Spotlight: Return of the Witch King Adventures for Shadow of the Demon Lord
14:48 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Offers Sourcebook Subscriptions on Shard
23:18 Commentary: Tales of the Valiant Monsters Hitting Too Hard?
27:58 Patreon Spotlight: Forge of Foes Monster Stats Tool
31:08 DM Tip: Use an oracle Die
41:32 Patreon Question: Managing One Year Later Montages
45:05 Patreon Question: Sticking With the City of Arches
52:17 Patreon Question: Help Players Tap Into Their Emotions

Links

Bloodbath at Marin's Hold – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 26 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 02:04:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Shadowdark RPG Campaign Notebook available to Sly Flourish patrons
Visit the Sly Flourish Blog
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Buy Sly Flourish Books
Shadowdark RPG
Cursed Scroll 1
Dyson Maps

There Is No "Default" – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 02:05:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:12 Product Spotlight: PJ Coffey's Crafting Heritages and Cultures CC-Released Doc
04:38 Kickstarter Spotlight: Campaign Builder - Dungeons and Ruins
07:16 Product Spotlight: 13th Age 2e Preview
10:18 Patreon Spotlight: Secret of Summervine Villa
13:58 D&D & RPG News: Cynthia Williams Leaves Hasbro
16:26 Commentary: Build Your Resilient TTRPG Hobby
20:00 Commentary: Matt Coleville on Long-form versus Short-Form Adventures
27:14 Commentary: The MtG Hobby Compared to the D&D Hobby
36:47 DM Tip: Fantastic Short-Form Adventure Publishers
50:41 Patreon Question: Villains and NPCs Responding to High Level Characters
54:28 Patreon Question: Warlords Are in 5e
56:27 Patreon Question: Repeating Descriptions and Getting Players to Pay Attention

Links

Swamp King Fronk – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 25 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:46:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Watch Your Wallets! – The Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:40:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:40 D&D & RPG News: Robert Schwalb on La Taberna de Rol
03:48 D&D & RPG News: DM David Compares MCDM, Daggerheart, and 5e
05:42 Kickstarter Spotlight: Wandering Tavern by Homie and the Dude
09:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Infestation at Devil's Glade by Jeff Stevens
11:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Restless Encounters by Inkwell Ideas
13:51 D&D & RPG News: 13th Age Megabundle on Bundle of Holding
17:23 Product Spotlight: Dyson Logos Commercial Map Packs
19:55 D&D & RPG News: Cairn 2 Character Builder Open Sourced
25:56 Patreon Spotlight: Readings and Reflections with Sly Flourish Podcast
28:21 D&D & RPG News: JP Coovert's video on Indie RPGs
29:11 DM Tip: Split Up Your Prep
39:05 Patreon Question: How Often to Level Characters?
43:27 Patreon Question: What to Prep When You Have a Long Time
49:26 Patreon Question: Accounting for High Power Charactesr with the Lazy Encounter Benchmark

Links

Run Evil Cities – Examining Vandekhul from Empire of the Ghouls

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 02:25:00 -0400

Mike dives into running the evil city of Vandekhul and the freedom it gives heroic characters to be jerks!

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:38 Number One Tip for Running Evil Cities
04:56 Ghoulish Elizabethian Politics in the Center of the Underworld
06:08 The Yojimbo / Fistful of Dollars Adventure Model
20:08 Double Check Your Session Zero Lines and Veils
22:38 Turning the In-World Safety Dials
26:26 Dungeons Everywhere
30:45 Adding Nice Places the Characters (and Players) Can Rest
35:55 Adding Nice People to Meet and Care About
37:31 Adding Physical Layers of History

Show Links

The Best 5e Challenge Rating – The Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 01:03:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:03 D&D & RPG News: Dungeoncraft on Getting Cheap Miniatures
03:58 Kickstarter Spotlight: Monsters of Drakkenheim
05:52 Kickstarter Spotlight: Cairn 2e Boxed Set
08:16 Commentary: Tales of the Valiant Wight
14:26 Commentary: Why CR3 is the best CR
20:09 Sly Flourish News: New Search Engine for Sly Flourish!
22:13 DM Tip: The Two Different Games at the Table
34:29 Patreon Question: Lazy DM Steps in an Online VTT World
40:55 Patreon Question: Handling Failure at the End of Campaigns
45:23 Patreon Question: Handling Flying Characters
48:53 Patreon Question: Feeling Bad After a Big Battle
54:22 Patreon Question: When to Give Out Magic Items

Links

Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands Deep Dive

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:10:00 -0400

Mike dives deep into Shadowed Keep of the Borderlands by Raging Swan Press.

00:00 Show Start
01:39 What Is Shadowed Keep of the Borderlands?
04:59 Why is it So Good?
07:07 What Do You Get?
10:09 Dulwich Overview and Quick References
18:24 The Duchy of Ashlar
22:42 The Shadowed Keep
31:35 Appendices and Player Handouts
33:35 My Own Shadowed Keep Campaign
42:22 Final Recommendation: Buy It

Links

Visit the Sly Flourish Blog
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Podcast
Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Buy Sly Flourish Books: https://shop.slyflourish.com/
Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands (affiliate link)

WOTC Survey Predictions – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 02:09:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:59 D&D & RPG News: Jim Ward Passes Away
01:37 Commentary: Bob World Builder's Survey of D&D and WOTC Popularity
12:55 D&D & RPG News: Legos and Sneakers and Hawaiian Shirts
13:59 D&D & RPG News: Tome of Beasts 2023 on D&D Beyond
21:45 Patreon Spotlight: The SF Patreon Q&A Database
25:41 D&D & RPG News: Larian says No BG3 Expansions or BG4
29:27 DM Tip: Reach and Run Awesome Campaign Endings
45:36 Patreon Question: Too Much Comedy and Joking at our Serious D&D Game
49:15 Patreon Question: How Much is Gold Worth? Function Economies in our D&D Games
52:55 Patreon Question: Lazy Encounter Benchmark for Multiple Battles in a Day

Links

The Elven Orb – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 24 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 03:14:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Do You Love WOTC? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 03:13:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:28 D&D & RPG News: Dungeon Crawl Classics Humble Bundle
04:35 D&D & RPG News: Worlds Without Number SRD in CC0
07:07 D&D & RPG News: WOTC's "Do You Like Me" Survey
16:11 D&D & RPG News: Hasbro's Chris Cocks on D&D and AI
20:36 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Partners with StartPlaying.Games
23:26 D&D & RPG News: Daggerheart Open Beta Available
30:05 Sly Flourish News: Lazy DM's Companion On Sale!
30:47 Patreon Spotlight: Dungeon Chambers
36:44 DM Tip: Challenging High-Level Characters
55:28 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Speak Up During (Online) Games
58:01 Patreon Question: Staying Excited about Long Campaigns

Links

Thoughts on Obsidian for RPG Prep

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 02:31:00 -0400

Mike explores using https://obsidian.md/ for tabletop RPG prep.

Episode Contents

00:00 - Show Start
01:18 - Why Obsidian?
02:40 - Choose the Tool You Dig
04:19 - What Is Obsidian
05:11 - Check the Resource Links in the Show Notes
07:17 - The Fun and Dangers of Dorking With Our Systems
11:28 - Why Obsidian Again?
13:10 - On Markdown
20:10 - On Synching Notes
24:30 - Keeping Things Simple
35:18 - Limiting Hyperlinking
36:03 - The Lazy GM Campaign Template for Obsidian
41:38 - The Danger of Plugin Proprietary Notes
45:32 - Espanso for Text Autofilling
49:40 - Printing Notes to PDF with Automator, Shell Scripting, Pandoc, and Latex...
52:32 - Final Thoughts

Links

Take Critical Notes During the Game – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:38:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:06 Sly Flourish News: Last Week's Sly Flourish RPG Newsletter
03:42 Kickstarter Spotlight: Planestrider
09:52 Kickstarter Spotlight: Surviving Strangehollow
12:02 Sly Flourish News: Lazy DM's Companion On Sale 50% Off
13:59 D&D & RPG News: NASA Releases a 5e Adventure
16:04 D&D & RPG News: Chaosium RPG Design Contest
21:58 DM Tip: Taking Notes During and After the Game
36:43 Patreon Question: Running City of Arches as an Open Table Game
41:18 Patreon Question: Villainous Plans and the Three of Five Keys Model
48:21 Patreon Question: Introducing New Players to RPGs
51:18 Patreon Question: Secrets and Lore as Character Knowledge
54:22 Patreon Question: Secrets and Clues in Dark Sun

Links

The Marrow Fiend – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 23 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 03:11:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

The Many Right Answers of TTRPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:20:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:01 D&D & RPG News: Rascal.News for TTRPG News
03:19 D&D & RPG News: Ginny Di on D&D with ADHD
05:50 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Released
08:50 DM Tip: The Benefits of Character Factions
16:35 Commentary: The Many Right Answers of TTRPGs
32:53 Patreon Question: WOTC and Table-Usable Maps
38:06 Patreon Question: Selling Magic Items -- Info and Inventories
39:57 Patreon Question: Tying Backgrounds to Curse of Strahd
42:34 Patreon Question: How do I Feel about AI in TTRPGs?

Links

Roots of the Marrow Tree – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 22 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 02:45:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Call It D&D 2024 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 03:01:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:26 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 Core Book Release Dates
03:58 Commentary: Call the New Books "D&D 2024"
06:47 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 on Roll20
08:41 D&D & RPG News: Humblewood on D&D Beyond
16:43 D&D & RPG News: How D&D Began Video
20:56 Patreon Spotlight: Best of Sly Flourish 2013-2023
27:30 DM Tip: Different Steps for Different Circumstances
40:45 Patreon Question: Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands Campaign
44:27 Patreon Spotlight: A Player's Version of Forge of Foes. Forge of Heroes?
49:52 Patreon Question: Favorite Three RPG Mechanics

Links

Journey to the Marrow Tree – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 21 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 01:01:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Crown and Skull Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 03:27:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 D&D & RPG News: Ginny Di on One-on-One D&D
02:33 Product Spotlight: Crown and Skull by Runehammer
32:10 Patreon Spotlight: City of Arches Updates
34:31 Patreon Spotlight: 1d100 Monuments
40:18 DM Tip: Build Custom Faction Lists
47:52 Patreon Question: Banning Subclasses
52:16 Patreon Question: Paralysis Choosing What to Run

Links

Stuck Between a Gelatenous Cube and Two Air Elementals – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 20 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 02:06:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

D&D on Foundry – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 02:29:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:07 D&D & RPG News: D&D on Foundry
16:39 Commentary: D&D Beyond Isn't Destroying the 5e Hobby
29:19 D&D & RPG News: Shadowdark Print Books For Sale
30:46 DM Tip: When To Use Simple or Complicated Stat Blocks
46:13 Patreon Question: XP Loss on Death in Shadowdark
47:53 Patreon Question: Why No Shapechange for Flee Mortals Vampires?
49:20 Patreon Question: Looking Back on Old Secrets
51:05 Patreon Question: Teaching New Players 5e through D&D
53:59 Patreon Question: Quest Continuity in Shadowdark

Links

Tomb of Kytheros – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 19 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 02:55:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Tips from Baldur's Gate 3 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 02:54:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:05 Kickstarter Spotlight: Vault 5e Crafting and Alchemy by Cubicle 7
03:50 DM Tip: Making Your Lore Optional by PHD20
10:49 D&D & RPG News: Bob World Builder on 15 Different RPGs
12:55 D&D & RPG News: Kelsey Dionne and Baron de Ropp on RPG Design
14:02 D&D & RPG News: Tegan J Gaming on a Defense of Dungeons & Dragons
18:01 Patreon Spotlight: Dwarven Forge VTT Backdrops
21:34 DM Tip: TTRPG Tips from Baldur's Gate 3
44:29 Patreon Question: Are Casters Better than Martial Characters in 5e?
47:38 Patreon Question: Running Single-Session One-Shot Games On Time
50:54 Patreon Question: Running Too Many NPCs
54:01 Patreon Question: Writing Adventures as Good as Published Ones
58:47 Patreon Question: Wolfgang Baur on Worldbuilding

Links

Forge of Foes Deep Dive

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 02:40:00 -0500

Mike dives deep into Forge of Foes – build and run awesome monsters for your 5e RPG!

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:05 Forge of Foe's Main Advantage
04:26 Forge of Foes and 5e Modularity
06:36 Is Forge of Foes Compatible with Other RPGs?
08:38 The Book's Structure
13:28 The Quick Monster Builder and Stats by CR
23:35 Quick 5e Monster Stats Tool
24:33 Adding Monster Powers
28:00 General Use Stat Blocks
31:59 Using Stats by CR to Benchmark Existing Monsters
36:11 Monster Powers
36:49 Monster Roles
37:54 Other Lazy Tricks
39:01 Monster Advice Chapters
40:34 Alternative Takes on Encounter Building
42:57 Monsters By Adventure Location
43:43 More Monster Advice
45:14 Monsters by Story or Story by Monster?
45:57 Anticolonial Play
47:57 The Best 5e Monster Book

Links

What Is 5e – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 03:39:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 Kickstarter Spotlight: Tales of the Valiant Gamemaster's Guide
06:36 Kickstarter Spotlight: Gate Pass Gazette 2023 for Level Up Advanced 5e
12:00 Commentary: What Is 5e?
30:01 DM Tip: Using the Eight Steps At the Table
47:26 Patreon Question: How Many Battles in a Dungeon?
51:19 Patreon Question: Should We Demand Players Read the Books?
54:19 Patreon Question: Player Rolls or Player Skill for Puzzles?

Links

The Mummy on the Bridge – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 18 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 02:33:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Don’t Drop 5e Because of Hasbro – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 02:59:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:29 Patreon Spotlight: City of Arches Update
09:52 D&D & RPG News: Jennell Jaquays Passes Away
11:26 Commentary: Don't Throw Away 5e Because of Hasbro
27:47 Product Spotlight: Weapons of Legend for 5e by Jeff Stevens
33:40 DM Tip: Add the Black Flag Luck System to your 5e games
45:36 Patreon Question: Pacing Quests for Villainous Plots
50:31 Patreon Question: Pricing Magic Items
53:03 Patreon Question: Best Quest Vehicles in City of Arches
56:04 Patreon Question: Preparing Players for a 2e Campaign

Links

Vault of Shune – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 17 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 03:46:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Is 5e Dying? No. – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 03:47:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:27 D&D & RPG News: A Player's Primer to Level Up Advanced 5e
06:23 Product Spotlight: GM Screen for Lazy GMs Portrait Mode
09:45 D&D & RPG News: Ben Riggs on the Fall of 5e
37:58 DM Tip: Making 5e Your Own on the GM Side of the Screen
48:48 Patreon Question: Tracking Alternative Endings for Combat
52:17 Patreon Question: Getting Shadowdark Treasure Right
54:09 Patreon Question: Best Designs for Published Adventures
59:13 Patreon Question: Secrets and Clues and the Quantum Ogre

Links

A Troll Named Barbarog – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 16 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 02:24:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

A 2023 Retrospective in TTRPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 03:24:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:11 DM Tip: Adding Free Monstrous Menagerie Tokens to Owlbear Rodeo
07:55 D&D & RPG News: CORE20 RPG Playtest
10:47 Patreon Spotlight: 5e Artisanal Monster Database
14:53 Commentary: A Look Back at 2023
40:31 Product Spotlight: Sly Flourish 2024 Calendar
41:51 Patreon Question: Best Adventure to Learn Shadowdark RPG
44:13 Patreon Question: Using The Books We Buy
46:27 Patreon Question: When Will You Run Drakkenheim?
49:03 Patreon Question: Leaving a Game Gracefully
52:08 Patreon Question: Dealing with Missing Players in Character-Focused Adventures
53:57 Patreon Question: What To Do with Players of Dead PCs?

Links

A5e Monsters & Encounters– Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 02:53:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:27 D&D & RPG News: Numenera Bundles of Holding
04:25 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Guides Bundle of Holding
05:46 DM Tip: Detailed Random Encounters with A5E's Monstrous Menagerie and Trials and Treasures
11:50 DM Tip: PJ Coffey's Intro to Level Up Advanced 5E
13:32 Patreon Spotlight: Patreon Discord Server
16:37 Commentary: Travel Options from 5e Books
33:25 Patreon Question: Tips for One on One Games
39:04 Patreon Question: What To Do with Weeks of Prep Time?
42:27 Patreon Question: How Much is Too Much for Describing Scenes?
45:37 Patreon Question: How Much Do I Need to Get Buy-In from Players on a Future Campaign?
47:49 Patreon Question: Offering Feedback to Other DMs

Links

Deadly Bridges – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 15 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:28:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Hasbro Layoffs and What We Can Do – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 03:27:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:00 Sly Flourish News: Last Hours of the Lazy DM Bundle of Holding
02:11 D&D & RPG News: Hasbro Lays Off 1,100 Workers
10:41 DM Tip: Get Exponentially More Value out of Random Tables
19:51 Patreon Spotlight: Readings and Reflections Podcast
21:00 Commentary: Favorite RPG Products of 2023
33:56 Patreon Question: Dealing with GM Burnout
39:59 Patreon Question: Character-Focused Side Quests Versus the Main Quest

Links

Saving Barborog– Shadowdark Gloaming Session 14 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 02:34:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Level Up Advanced 5e Adventurer’s guide Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 03:56:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:03 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Bundle of Holding!
02:22 Kickstarter Spotlight: MCDM's RPG
05:31 Kickstarter Spotlight: One Dollar One-shot by Penny Dragon Games
09:16 Patreon Spotlight: Game Master Screen for Lazy GMs
12:04 Sly Flourish News: Mike on EN World's Podcast Talking D&D Beyond
13:27 Product Spotlight: Level Up Advanced 5e Adventurer's Guide
46:19 DM Tip: Tips for Using Paper Character Sheets
58:48 Patreon Question: Secrets and Clues Creating Too Many Adventure Hooks
01:01:37 Patreon Question: Running a Prequel Campaign
01:03:43 Patreon Question: Preparing a Big Campaign Adventure

Links

Empire of the Ghouls Deep Dive

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 03:25:00 -0500

Mike shares his experiences with Empire of the Ghouls!

Links

Show Contents:

00:00 Show Start
00:51 This Adventure Is Awesome
04:26 Top Tips for Running Empire of the Ghouls
04:37 Tip 1: Deal with the Loads of Travel
11:19 Tip 2: Prepare for Dark and Mature Content
14:20 Tip 3: Add Upward Beats to the Final Two Chapters
15:41 Tip 4: Change Things to Suit Your Game
16:50 Tip 5: Use the Whole Kobold Press Midgard Library as Source Material
21:08 Tip Summary
21:37 A Deeper Chapter by Chapter Guide
22:15 Dread Chambers of the Undercity
24:20 Holy Robes of Sister Adelind
27:33 The Blood Marriage
30:45 Catacombs of the Ghul King
32:40 Into the Fuligin Realm
36:08 The Pure City of Vandekhul
38:34 Final Thoughts -- It's Awesome

What We Want from WOTC and D&D Beyond – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 03:24:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:17 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Bundle of Holding!
03:15 Product Spotlight: Raging Swan 2021 5e Megabundle
05:01 Product Spotlight: Drake Koboldson's Exotic Weapons and Gadgets
06:00 Patreon Spotlight: Dyson Royalty Free Maps Gallery
08:59 Commentary: Other 5e Publishers on D&D Beyond
13:18 Commentary: What Can We Do to Strengthen 5e?
18:49 Commentary: Is it Good for Publishers?
22:55 Commentary: Why It Matters to GMs
28:32 Commentary: What Can Wizards Do For the 5e Community?
34:02 Commentary: What Can We Do for a Resilient 5e Hobby?
40:16 Commentary: You Can Get Involved
41:11 Commentary: WOTC's Role in the Community
45:35 DM Tip: High Value Prep Activities
57:52 Patreon Question: Helping Players Discover Secrets and Clues
01:00:10 Patreon Question: High-Level Monster Tactics
01:02:57 Patreon Question: Alignment for Factions
01:04:42 Patreon Question: Running Ariel Combat
01:06:03 Patreon Question: Revealing Lots of Campaign Info as Secrets and Clues

Links

Building a Goblin Town – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 13 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:50:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Awarding Treasure in 5e – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 02:52:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Grimtooth's Traps
07:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Seekers Guide to Enchanting Emporiums
16:51 D&D & RPG News: Big Sales This Month
17:39 D&D & RPG News: EN World's Article on Free and Bundled RPG Products
18:50 DM Tip: Awarding Treasure in 5e
38:47 Patreon Question: Best Features for Funnels
41:06 Patreon Question: Forgetting Things in Combat
44:53 Patreon Question: Running Short Episodic Sessions
47:33 Patreon Question: Adding Spells to Monsters

Links

A Forest Dragon Wants Beer – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 12 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 03:42:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

WOTC Brings D&D to Schools – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 02:22:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:02 D&D & RPG News: Free WOTC D&D After-School Materials and Adventure
05:34 Commentary: This Is What We Want WOTC To Do
08:36 Commentary: Practical 5e Digital Interoperability Today
25:20 Patreon Spotlight: Lazy GM's Random Generator
29:31 DM Tip: Prepping on a High Stress Short Timeline
39:32 Patreon Question: When to End a Campaign
42:02 Patreon Question: Prep NPCs with Personality Quotes
49:52 Patreon Question: Getting Backstory for New Characters

Links

Mugdulblub! – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 11 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 03:10:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

A Digital 5e Utopia – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 03:11:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:33 D&D & RPG News: Fantastic Deals on D&D and 5e Books
06:51 D&D & RPG News: Roll 20 D&D Character Builder Outside the VTT
11:47 Commentary: A D&D Digital Utopia
26:10 DM Tip: Build Monuments of Power for Big Battles in 5e
41:48 Patreon Question: Dialog Options for NPCs
45:45 Patreon Question: Good AD&D Adventures for Shadowdark RPG
46:40 Patreon Question: Learning New RPGs

Links

Gelatenous Cubes! – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 10 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 02:08:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Best Values in TTRPG Books – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 03:04:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:01:06 Commentary: What's the Value of an RPG Product?
00:29:07 DM Tip: Using the 8 Steps At Your Table
00:49:15 Patreon Question: How I Feel about D&D 2024
00:54:17 Patreon Question: Where to Get D&D News
00:57:05 Patreon Question: Encounter Builiding for Waves of Monsters
01:03:48 Patreon Question: Running Gladiatorial Arenas

Links

Run I6 Ravenloft with Shadowdark

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 02:34:00 -0400

Mike shares his experiences, tips, and tricks for running the original 1983 I6 Ravenloft using the Shadowdark RPG.

Show Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:17 Did Shadowdark and Ravenloft Work Well Together?
03:26 Get Ravenloft for $3
05:21 Main Experiences Running Ravenloft with Shadowdark
05:30 Use 5th Level Characters
08:06 Use Twice as Many Pregens as you Have Players -- Plan for Death
09:28 Include Some Silvered Weapons
10:31 Use Old-School Mapping
11:35 We Got Through a Lot of the Castle -- They Ran from a Lot
12:55 Introducing Shadowdark to 5e Players
20:06 Running Ravenloft in One Session
28:29 Modifying Ravenloft for Shadowdark -- Very Little Needed
35:59 Patreon Toolkit to Run Ravenloft with Shadowdark
39:50 VTT Ravenloft Maps
40:46 Other Ways to Run Ravenloft
41:57 Ravenloft + Shadowdark = Awesome

Links

Is Planescape Worth It? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 02:56:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:27 D&D & RPG News: Arcane Library Bundle of Holding
00:03:00 D&D & RPG News: Level Up Advanded 5e SRD in the Creative Commons
00:07:50 Commentary: Planescape Adventures in the Multiverse
00:37:20 Commentary: The Mortuary
00:42:42 Patreon Spotlight: Lazy GM Screen Sheets and a Forge of Foes Monster Stat App
00:47:41 DM Tip: Music Playlists For Your Game
00:57:52 Patreon Question: Pacing High-Level Campaigns
01:03:06 Patreon Question: Running Two Campaigns with the Same Setting and Story

Links

Mutant Catfish! – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 9 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 02:23:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Defining Adventure Types – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:21:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:22 D&D & RPG News: Black Flag System Reference Document
07:37 Commentary: A Comparison of Cult Fanatics
20:53 DM Tip: Lazy Tricks for Making Great Magic Items
33:05 Commentary: Defining Adventure Types
50:29 Patreon Question: Running Battles in the Background (again)
53:42 Patreon Question: Running Ravenloft with Shadowdark

Links

Bitter Mold Keep– Shadowdark Gloaming Session 8 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 02:36:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

What Do We Need From WOTC for D&D? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:18:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:38 D&D & RPG News: Amazon Sales on D&D Books
07:25 Commentary: What Do We Need from WOTC for D&D?
29:16 DM Tip: Running Monsters in Dynamic Situations
43:14 Patreon Question: Character Wants to Defer to Authorities
48:26 Patreon Question: Running Flashbacks
52:25 Patreon Question: Managing Big Battles in the Background

Links

Drusilla’s Hut – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 7 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 02:42:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Bastions and Pacing in D&D – The Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 03:29:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:03 Commentary: D&D Playtest on Bastions and Cantrips
23:30 Kickstarter Spotlight: The Vault of Life Well Lived by Cubicle 7
29:21 Patreon Spotlight: Secret of Summervine Villa
34:41 DM Tip: Prepping and Improvising Pacing
51:01 Patreon Question: Foreshadowing Roach Motel Dungeons
57:15 Patreon Question: Showing Locations in a Hex Crawl

Links

Drusilla’s Hut – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 6 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 04:13:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Flee Mortals Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 03:12:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:05 Flee Mortals (Qualifiers)
00:02:28 Flee Mortals Overall Assessment
00:03:48 Flee Mortals - Not a Monster Manual Replacement
00:06:17 Flee Mortals - Are 5e Monsters Boring?
00:09:50 Flee Mortals Overview
00:13:32 Flee Mortals Monster Roles
00:15:54 Flee Mortals Action Oriented Monsters
00:17:44 Flee Mortals Minions
00:25:48 Flee Mortals Encounter Building Guidelines
00:28:21 Flee Mortals Monster Index Spreadsheet
00:29:10 Flee Mortals and Other Monster Books
00:30:20 Flee Mortals and D&D Beyond
00:31:59 Flee Mortals Other Chapters
00:34:22 Who Should Buy Flee Mortals?
00:35:22 Flee Mortals Lightning Round Questions
00:41:42 Flee Mortals Final Thoughts
00:42:37 Patreon Spotlight: Readings and Reflections Podcast
00:44:26 Patreon Question: Alternatives to Legendary Actions for Legendary Monsters
00:46:14 Patreon Question: WOTC changing Legendary Actions to Reactions
00:48:36 Patreon Question: Buying or Leasing Material from D&D Beyond or Demiplane
00:52:53 Patreon Question: Safest Place to Buy Digital RPG Content
00:55:40 Patreon Question: Going Off the Path on Published Adventures
00:57:13 Patreon Question: Good Advice I Don't Follow
01:02:46 Patreon Question: Handling Villagers in Protect the Village Situations
01:04:38 Patreon Question: Managing Sandbox Situations with the 8 Steps
01:06:40 Patreon Question: Overcoming the Need for High Production Value D&D

Links

Wardenwood Caverns – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 5 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:14:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

D&D Beyond’s ”Maps” Virtual Tabletop – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 02:14:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:03 Kickstarter Spotlight: Wanderer's Guide to Enchanted Emporiums
03:21 D&D & RPG News: VTT "Maps" in D&D Beyond
18:41 D&D & RPG News: Monstrous Compendium 4: Eldraine Creatures
28:57 Patreon Spotlight: Mire's End 4th Level Adventure
30:36 DM Tip: Adventure Structures
50:04 Patreon Question: Shaking Up Castle Ravenloft
53:14 Patreon Question: Three Weeks of GM Improvement

Links

Return to Wardenwood – Shadowdark Gloaming Session 4 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 03:23:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Embrace Player Shenanigans – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 01:22:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:08 D&D & RPG News: Chris Perkins's DM Tips
07:39 Kickstarter Spotlight: Level Up Advanced 5e Starter Set by EN World Publishing
12:01 Kickstarter Spotlight: Monstrous
14:19 Commentary: Correction on A5e Counterspell
17:13 DM Tip: Run Really Hard Battles and Let Player Get Away with Stuff
28:45 Patreon Spotlight: Dwarven Forge VTT Backdrops
32:59 Patreon Question: Prepping Adventures While Visually Impared
38:54 Patreon Question: Reciting Session Recaps and Previous Session Summaries
42:32 Patreon Question: GMs Bringing More Energy to the Game
46:37 Patreon Question: Best Starting Adventures for New Players and DMs

Links

Idol of Unduluk–Shadowdark Gloaming Session 3 Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 03:26:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Baldur’s Gate 3 Does Checks Right – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 03:24:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:13 D&D & RPG News: 2024 Players Handbook Playtest 7
09:43 Commentary: I Hate Counterspell
16:42 Kickstarter Spotlight: Side Quests and NPC Decks by Inkwell Ideas
18:14 D&D & RPG News: Demiplane Gets 5e Content
22:58 Commentary: Adventure Pitfalls -- Where Do Our Games Fail to Be Fun?
34:25 Patreon Spotlight: The Lazy RPG Talk Show Database
37:57 Commentary: Baldur's Gate 3 Ability Checks
47:10 Patreon Question: Does Baldur's Gate 3 Match the D&D Experience?
51:34 Patreon Question: Fudging Monster Stats Feels Bad
56:38 Patreon Question: Tips for Rules Versus Rulings in OSR Games
59:34 Patreon Question: Only Using Half of your Prep Notes

Links

Ruins of Black Marrow –Shadowdark Gloaming Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 03:42:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

D&D on Death Row – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 03:40:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:53 Kickstarter Spotlight: Old Town Saga by MT Black
03:43 Kickstarter Spotlight: Weapons of Legend by Jeff Stevents
06:35 Commentary: D&D on Death Row
14:33 Patreon Spotlight: Tomb of the Red Headsman
18:06 Patreon Question: The Eight Steps for Call of Cthulhu and Investigative or Mystery Games
24:10 Patreon Question: Incentivizing Moving Around During Combat
28:03 Patreon Question: Thoughts on Anti-Colonial Chapter of Forge of Foes
36:29 Patreon Question: Player-Focused Tasks and Roles
39:22 Patreon Question: Where to Drop In the Three Choices For Future Sessions
41:56 Patreon Question: Fitting a Strong Start Into a Three-Hour Game
44:57 Patreon Question: Where Does Treasure Make Sense?

Links

Gloaming Session 1 Prep – Shadowdark RPG

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 03:39:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

Scarlet Citadel Tips, Review, and Campaign Finale

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 03:52:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his final Scarlet Citadel game!

Show Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:03 Top Tips for Running Scarlet Citadel
01:44 Tip 1: Bring Your Own Story and Motivation
04:03 Tip 2: Give the Villains Escalating Plots
05:30 Tip 3: Pay Attention and Note the Verticality of the Dungeon
07:10 Tip 4: Show How the Dungeon Evolves
08:43 Tip 5: Take Advantage of Scarlet Citadel's Excellent Maps
10:04 I can't Recommend Scarlet Citadel
17:22 What Do I Like about Scarlet Citadel?
18:52 How Did Our Campaign End?

Bigby’s Glory of the Giants Spotlight – The Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 03:38:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:12 D&D & RPG News: Baldur's Gate Gazateer Free on D&D Beyond
03:55 Product Spotlight: Bigby's Glory of the Giants
27:57 Patreon Spotlight: Uncovered Secrets Volume 2
35:55 Product Spotlight: Adventure Crucible - Building Stronger Scenarios for Any RPG
46:24 Commentary: Read Books Instead of Social Media
48:15 DM Tip: Adventure Models from the Lazy DM's Companion
54:53 Patreon Question: Handling Multiple 5e Systems
58:55 Patreon Question: Challenging Differently Powered Characters
01:02:45 Patreon Question: Encouraging Party Talk and Banter

Links

Shadowdark RPG – The Gloaming Session Zero

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 01:07:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his Shadowdark RPG campaign, the Gloaming!

WOTC Revisits Old Settings, Tal’dorei Reborn on D&D Beyond – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 03:05:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:02 Kickstarter Spotlight: Ultimate Bestiary Secrets of the Fey
02:16 Kickstarter Spotlight: Objima Tales of the Tall Grass
03:30 D&D & RPG News: Elderbrain Adventure Survey
05:03 Sly Flourish News: Reading and Reflection Podcast for Heroic Patrons
07:23 D&D & RPG News: WOTC to Revisit Old Settings
12:21 D&D & RPG News: Tal'dorei Reborn on D&D Beyond
18:15 Commentary: Mike's Little Candles -- Is WOTC Being a Good Partner in the TTRPG Hobby?
30:49 DM Tip: The Bare Minimum You Need for an RPG Session
41:33 Patreon Question: Run an RPG with a Focus on Roleplay
45:37 Patreon Question: Pacing Going Too Fast?

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 33 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 02:39:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his final Scarlet Citadel game!

Sky Zephyrs, Weird Wizard, Dolmenwood, Uncharted Journeys – Lazy RPG Talk Show (fixed)

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:52:52 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:23 Kickstarter Spotlight: Sky Zephyrs
04:29 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dolmenwood
11:48 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadow of the Weird Wizard
16:27 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Demon Lord Bundle of Holding
19:11 D&D & RPG News: New Roll 20 D&D Character Builder
30:22 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Outlands
38:43 Product Spotlight: Uncharted Journeys by Cubicle 7
49:28 Patreon Question: Scarlet Citadel for Shadowdark RPG
50:55 Patreon Question: Looking for System Neutral RPG Settings
53:08 Patreon Question: Defining My Style of RPGs

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 32 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 02:41:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Experiences Running a Shadowdark RPG 0-Level Gauntlet (fixed)

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 06:44:37 -0400

Mike shares his thoughts after running a Shadowdark RPG 0-Level Gauntlet – Hoard of the Sea Wolf King!

Links:

Show Contents:

00:00 An Opportunity to Play Shadowdark
01:46 My Main Point - We loved It and grasped it's theme quickly
04:23 Three Other Top Thoughts
05:49 Running Hoard of the Sea Wolf King
18:00 Other Thoughts about Shadowdark RPG
28:09 How is Shadowdark RPG to GM?
33:05 Final Thoughts

Flee Mortals, Where Evil Lives, Award Winning TTRPGs, Bigby’s AI – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 02:07:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com?utm_source=sf_podcast_talkshow&utm_medium=sf_podcast_description_link

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:06 D&D & RPG News: Flee Mortals For Sale
06:59 Kickstarter Spotlight: Where Evil Lives Crowdfunding Campaign
11:41 D&D & RPG News: Free Giants of the Star Forge Adventure on D&D Beyond
12:47 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Preview
19:28 D&D & RPG News: 2023 Award Winning RPG Products
22:57 D&D & RPG News: New Starfinder 2 in 2025
23:40 D&D & RPG News: AI Art Used in Bigby's Glory of the Giants
42:28 Commentary: Don't Forget Why We Love RPGs
45:33 Patreon Question: Concerns with Planescape and other WOTC Sourcebooks
50:20 Patreon Question: Prep During Long Breaks with Different Players
52:40 Patreon Question: Being Overwhelmed by Huge Sourcebooks
55:35 Patreon Question: Where Do You Get Puzzles?
57:46 Patreon Question: Engaging Players Between Sessions

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 31 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 03:36:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

D&D 5.1 SRD in Four Languages, Shadowdark Game Jam, Moving Things Forward – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 03:38:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:58 D&D & RPG News: 5.1 SRD Released in Four Languages
10:23 D&D & RPG News: Shadowdark RPG Game Jam Results
12:46 D&D & RPG News: Pathfinder 2 Remaster Preview
21:47 D&D & RPG News: Map Crow Uses Forge of Foes and Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
22:24 DM Tip: Moving Things Forward
43:22 Patreon Question: Balancing Spotlight and Player Creativity
48:11 Patreon Question: Recommends for Nautical Seafaring Adventuress
50:12 Patreon Question: Tips for Sci-Fi 5e games
51:39 Patreon Question: RPGs that Ephasize Theater of the Mind
54:26 Patreon Question: Handling In-World Dead Time
57:19 Patreon Question: Running Consecutive Campaigns in the Same Setting

Links

Prepping a Shadowdark RPG Gauntlet

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:55:00 -0400

Links

Show Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:41 What Is a Shadowdark Gauntlet?
03:46 Running Hoard of the Sea Wolf King
07:17 Prep the Session -- an In-World Session Zero
12:29 Add Some Secrets and Clues
15:01 Add a Dash of Cultists

Shadowdark RPG Deep Dive

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 02:51:00 -0400

Mike dives deep into the dungeon crawler RPG Shadowdark RPG

Links

Show Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:38 One of Three Videos
01:29 What Is Shadowdark RPG?
03:54 Key Features of Shadowdark RPG
04:04 Torches and Lighting
05:38 Always On Initiative
06:56 Really Flat Math
10:04 Slot-Based Encumbrance
11:44 Treasure-Based Experience
13:47 Differences with 5e
13:56 Very Different Style and Focus than 5e
15:39 Other 5e Differences
18:55 Convincing Your Group to Play Shadowdark RPG
19:58 Running the Gauntlet
20:56 An Opinionated RPG
24:25 Abstract Distances and Double-Near??
26:08 Awesome Monster Design
30:41 I'm Excited to Try It!

Easiest RPG for GMs, Weird Wizard, Fantasy Age 2, Hydra Coop, Owlbear Rodeo 2.0 – Lazy RPG Talk Show (Full)

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:58:20 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:43 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadows of the Weird Wizard Coming Soon
02:05 Kickstarter Spotlight: 500 Year Old Vampire
03:59 D&D & RPG News: Fantasy Age 2 Released
05:47 D&D & RPG News: Hydra Co-op OSR Bundle of Holding
08:13 D&D & RPG News: Owlbear Rodeo 2.0 Fully Released
12:09 Commentary: What is the Easiest RPG for GMs to Run?
24:32 Patreon Question: Linear vs Railroad vs Sandbox Adventure Design
31:11 Patreon Question: Using Forge of Foes for Rival Adventuring Parties
33:48 Patreon Question: Customizing Downtime for the Characters
35:53 Patreon Question: What Issues as a GM Did I Have and Change?
39:52 Patreon Question: Standing Firm on Cliffhanger Endings
43:12 Patreon Question: Handling Tag-Along NPCs in Light of Xaryxis

Links

Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands for 5e Deep Dive

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 02:07:00 -0400

Mike dives deep into Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands for 5e, a short campaign adventure written by Raging Swan Press.

00:00 Show Start
01:01 Returning to the Joy of a Core D&D Experience
04:25 A Deep Dive of Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands
05:01 Tested for More than a Decade
06:56 An Expandible 1st to 4th Level Adventure / Campaign
09:27 Both Readable and Usable at the Table
10:31 Single Page References Throughout
15:22 The Duchy of Ashlar
17:02 The Shadowed Keep
20:39 A Juxtaposition from Spelljammer
21:38 My Mistake -- Tying it to Greyhawk
28:39 Homebrewing Almost Immediately
31:33 The Masks of Orcus
33:48 Filling Out the World with Dyson Maps
36:38 Usable with Many Fantasy RPG Systems
38:13 Which Parts of Published Adventures Are Most Scrapable?
42:47 Do You Have to Read the Whole Thing?

Links

Free Monster Tokens, 2023 Ennies, Swords of the Serpentine, Running Cities – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 03:34:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:06 Product Spotlight: Free A5e Monster Tokens
03:03 D&D & RPG News: 2023 Ennie Nominations
12:05 Product Spotlight: Swords of the Serpentine
23:50 DM Tip: Running Cities
45:26 Patreon Question: Running Cozier Fantasty Games
50:28 Patreon Question: Running Tier 3 and 4 campaigns
53:27 Patreon Question: The Differences between Grim and Heroic D&D
57:28 Patreon Question: Building Fantastic Locations

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 30 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 03:17:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

TTRPGs and the Fediverse, Finding Players, and Projecting Deadly Threats – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 03:16:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:20 D&D & RPG News: Guest Host on Mastering Dungeons
03:07 Commentary: The RPG Fediverse and dndblogs.com
10:29 Commentary: Find Players for Non-5e RPGs
20:29 DM Tip: Project Deadly Threats
30:27 Patreon Question: Adjusting Spells with the Monster Dials
33:55 Patreon Question: Challenging High AC Characters
38:25 Patreon Question: Running Cozier Heroci 5e Games

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 29 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 03:12:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes PDF, Shard Tabletop, 2024 D&D Playtest 6, ToV Playtests – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:13:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:57 DM Tip: Build a Vampire Knight with Forge of Foes
09:11 Product Spotlight: Shard Tabletop
18:31 D&D & RPG News: New 2024 D&D Playtest Packet
32:56 D&D & RPG News: Two Tales of the Valiant Playtests
42:26 Patreon Question: Using PbtA Mechanics in 5e Games
47:36 Patreon Question: Giving Bonus Info for High Ability Rolls
50:48 Patreon Question: Improving Evocative Location Descriptions
54:44 Patreon Question: Telling Players about Changes You Made in Published Adventures

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 28 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:37:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Tome of Beasts 1 2023 Revision, RPG Community, Gloomhaven RPG, D&D VTT Hands-On – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 01:35:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:14 Product Spotlight: Tome of Beasts 1 2023 Revision by Kobold Press
10:07 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant Finishes at 10k Backers and 1.1M Dollars.
11:12 Kickstarter Spotlight: Gloomhaven RPG
14:44 Product Spotlight: Crucible for Foundry
16:51 D&D & RPG News: D&D VTT Hands-On Experiences
18:35 Commentary: The Digital Future of RPGs
25:16 Commentary: Where to Engage with the RPG Community
37:22 Patreon Question: Which Will Be the Most Popular RPG? It Doesn't Matter.
41:06 Patreon Question: Will the D&D 3D VTT Eat the World of RPGs? No.
43:43 Patreon Question: The Difference Between Old School Grim Characters and New Heroic Characters
49:24 Patreon Question: Sample Encounters for Monsters

Links

House Rules for the 2014 D&D Player’s Handbook – Lazy RPG Talk Show Special

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:03:54 -0400

Mike talks about how we can fix the 2014 D&D Players Handbook to preserve the value of the millions of copies that exist throughout the world and those in our own gaming room.

Podcast Contents

00:00 How Would You Fix the 2014 D&D Player's Handbook?
02:09 What Parts of the 2014 Player's Handbook Disrupt the Game?
04:10 House Rules in My Own Game
05:26 House Rules Take 1: Nerf Nerf Nerf
05:54 Ability Score Generation
07:31 Class and Subclass Nerfs
08:31 Ispiration
08:48 Exhaustion
09:03 Spell Changes
13:33 Feedback I got: Too Many Nerfs
14:31 A Different Approach: Let's All Make the Game Better
15:20 Where Do You get These House Rules?
16:01 A Focus on Intention
16:31 Boss Monsters are Special
19:40 Requests for a Smooth Game
19:49 Please don't Run More than One or Two Sidekick NPCs
20:23 Please don't multiclass dip for Shield
21:33 Be Mindful of Arcane Eye's Disruption
21:53 Let's Avoid the Counterspell Arms Race
22:25 Familiars are either In or Out of Combat
22:59 Goodberries Are No Substitute for Real Food
23:17 Pure Immunity Breaks a Lot of Monsters
23:38 Tiny Hut Works Poorly in Dangerous Areas
26:17 Pass Without Trace Isn't Invisibility
27:50 Give Me Feedback

Links

Reddit’s Enshittification and How it Affects D&D DMs and GMs – Lazy RPG Talk Show Special

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 02:05:00 -0400

Mike talks about the recent Reddit collapse, Cory Doctorow's "Enshittification" model for this type of collapse, and how DMs and GMs can protect themselves from the collapse of other enshittified platforms.

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:41 Main Points -- How GMs can Protect Themselves from Enshittified Platforms
05:08 The Enshittification Model
09:23 Why Does This Matter for DMs, GMs, and RPGs?
11:52 The Enshittification of Reddit and the RPG Subreddits
14:44 What GMs Are Really Losing -- The DM Academy
15:21 Where Will New DMs Go to Get Questions Answered?
17:18 Is D&D Itself Enshittified?
20:41 Enshittification Risks to GMs
24:21 What Are the Risks for Sly Flourish?
27:48 Know Enshittification, Have Backup Plans, Own Your Stuff
28:20 Returning to Blogs, Newsletters, Podcasts

Additional Links

Lazy GM in Japanese, BWB’s 4 Combat Tips, Aethereal Expanse, Chat GPT for RPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 01:59:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:22 Sly Flourish News: The Lazy GM's Resource Document in Japanese
04:05 D&D & RPG News: Bob World Builder's Four D&D Combat House Rules
07:12 Kickstarter Spotlight: Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide by Ghostfire Gaming
09:59 Commentary: Chat GPT for RPG Prep
33:05 Patreon Question: Making a Location Feel Dangerous
35:46 Patreon Question: Dealing With Emotional Drain After Intense Roleplay Scenes
38:14 Patreon Question: Running Campaigns Built from Multiple Published Adventuresb
40:17 Patreon Question: What Are GMs Not Thinking About Enough?
43:59 Patreon Question: Let Campaign Themes Come Out Naturally
46:16 Patreon Question: Combining 5e Subclasses with A5e Classes

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 27 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 02:09:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Spelljammer: Light of Xaryxis – Review and Tips

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 03:38:00 -0400

Mike offers a review and tips for running the Spelljammer adventure, Light of Xaryxis, with experiences from his own campaign.

Show Contents

00:00 Video Start
00:28 Reviewing Adventures I've Actually Run
00:49 Top Tips for Running Light of Xaryxis
00:52 Tip 1: Use Stars Over Stormwreck to Connect the Characters to Light of Xaryxis
01:26 Tip 2: Stay with the Moondancer
02:22 Tip 3: Embrace Flash Gordon
03:03 Tip 4: Run Ship Combat in the Narrative
04:11 Tip 5: Give Players Agency Over the Ending
04:58 A Review of the Spelljammer Boxed Set
06:55 Breaking Down the Adventure
08:22 Tips for Part 1
11:36 Tips for Part 2
15:37 Tips for Part 3
18:11 Tips for Part 4
19:03 Missions of the FInal Battle
21:26 Who Lives and Who Dies? Let the Dice Decide!
23:26 Add a Touch of Mind Flayer...
24:06 Princess Xedali's Choice
26:04 Run a One Year Later Montage
27:12 Final Thoughts

2024 D&D Core Book Terminology, 5e Isn’t D&D, High Trust Trad RPG – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 03:08:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:13 Sly Flourish News: Dwarven Forge VTT
07:46 D&D & RPG News: Wizards on One D&D and 2024 Core Book Messaging
14:57 Commentary: 5e Isn't D&D
25:38 Commentary: High Trust Trad Concepts and Situation-Based RPGs
40:34 Patreon Question: Can the Eight Steps work for Dungeon World?
43:22 Patreon Question: Dealing with Missing Players and Absenteeism
47:49 Patreon Question: Why Are Hags Allowed to Persist?

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 26 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 03:51:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Published Campaigns with Homebrew Adventures – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 02:50:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:20 Kickstarter Spotlight: Deck of Player Safety
04:24 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant on What's Compatible and What Isn't
13:35 Commentary: Homebrew Adventures in Published Settings
32:14 Patreon Question: Better Inclusiveness and Representation In Our Games
36:39 Patreon Question: Dice-Rolling for Stochastic Countdown Timers
38:57 Patreon Question: Managing Pacing of Downtime and Roleplayy Scenes
41:45 Patreon Question: Building Combat Encounters
45:00 Patreon Question: Tools for Improvisation At The Table
48:16 Patreon Question: Forge of Foes General Use Stat Block Encounter Math
52:00 Patreon Question: Improving NPC Dialog
53:41 Patreon Question: Character-Focused Spiral Campaign Development

Links

Empire of the Ghouls Part 3 – The Blood Marriage

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 03:07:00 -0400

Mike offers tips and a recap for running the third part of Empire of the Ghouls.

Candela Obscura, Tales of the Valiant KS, WOTC D&D Price Increase – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 29 May 2023 03:07:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

01:16 D&D & RPG News: Candela Obscura
08:18 Kickstarter Spotlight: Tales of the Valiant
33:52 Commentary: The D&D Book Price Increase
47:58 Patreon Question: Trying Out House Rules
51:17 Patreon Question: Dials for Magic Items
53:41 Patreon Question: Physical Tools for Online Play
55:39 Patreon Question: Gods for your Homebrew Campaign
58:18 Patreon Question: Alternatives to Notion

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 25 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 26 May 2023 04:05:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Map Options for D&D, JP Coovert Spotlight, Patreon Questions – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 22 May 2023 03:06:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:56 Commentary: Maps - Is D&D an Incomplete Product?
02:54 Commentary: Maps - No Great Single Solution for In-Person Play
04:51 Commentary: Maps - What Does D&D Recommend for New DMs?
06:44 Commentary: Maps - A Big Digital Display
07:45 Commentary: Maps - The Pathfinder Basic Flip Mat
10:35 Commentary: Maps - Big Sheets of 1" Gridded Poster Paper
13:12 Commentary: Maps - Print "Blueprint" Maps for Cheap.
15:14 Commentary: Maps - Use Cloth for a Fog of War
16:24 Commentary: Maps - Print Individual Rooms on Normal Paper
18:59 Commentary: Maps - Mixing Different Types
20:24 Product Spotlight: JP Coovert's Drawing Dungeons Booklet
25:18 Commentary: Maps - Theater of the Mind and Abstract Maps
29:26 Commentary: Maps - Try Lots of Options
30:37 Product Spotlight: The Works of JP Coovert
40:18 Patreon Question: Rewarding Inspiration
43:57 Patreon Question: Balancing Encounters Across the Adventuring Day

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 24 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 19 May 2023 04:29:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Oathbreaker Hardcover, Lazy GM’s Resources in CC, Help Open5e, 5 RPGs in 3 Days – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 15 May 2023 02:59:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:49 Product Spotlight: Crown of the Oathbreaker Physical Book
03:57 Sly Flourish News: The Lazy GM's Resource Document in the Creative Commons
08:14 Sly Flourish News: Lazy Solo 5e generator on Perchance
10:04 Commentary: Developers! Help Open5e!
14:22 Commentary: Will WOTC Use Open5e?
15:58 Commentary: Playing Five RPGs in Three Days
18:57 Commentary: Playing Dungeon World at 1d4 Con
21:15 Commentary: Playing Pathfinder 2 at 1d4 Con
25:57 Commentary: Playing Call of Cthulhu at 1d4 Con
29:05 Commentary: Playing Dungeon Crawl Classics at 1d4 Con
32:12 Commentary: Playing My Friend's New RPG at 1d4 Con
34:29 Patreon Question: Players Questioning the GM's Logic
38:04 Patreon Question: Remembering Campaign-Specific Rules
40:18 Patreon Question: Is the DM the Storyteller or the Referee? Neither!
42:53 Patreon Question: Running 45 Minute Battles with No Tweaking
47:19 Patreon Question: Reigning in Wanderlust in an Island Hopping Campaign

Links

Knave 2e, Amazing Encounters and Quests, Emporium of Wonders, Game Tips – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 08 May 2023 03:43:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:17 Kickstarter Spotlight: Knave 2.0
08:02 Kickstarter Spotlight: Amazing Encounters and Quests
10:35 Kickstarter Spotlight: Emporium of Wonders
13:20 Commentary: Tips from the Midnight Temple
36:13 Patreon Question: Organizing an big RPG Club and Community
40:14 Patreon Question: Building Mythic Monsters
44:53 Patreon Question: Action-Oriented Monsters in Forge of Foes?
46:15 Patreon Question: Playing In Person after 30 Years Away
49:24 Patreon Question: Lazy Gamemaster's Guide?
52:27 Patreon Question: Does Curse of Strahd Take a Lot of Work to Fix? No
55:34 Patreon Question: Needing to Take a Break?
58:35 Patreon Question: Top Tips for New and Experienced GMs

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 23 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 05 May 2023 02:53:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Owen KC Stevens Bundles, KP Valiant Monster Playtest, 2024 D&D Playtest 5 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 01 May 2023 03:52:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:10 D&D & RPG News: Owen KC Stevens Bundles on DriveThruRPG
02:26 D&D & RPG News: Owlbear Rodel 2.0 Official Release in July
06:19 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Tales of the Valiant Monsters Playtest
19:51 D&D & RPG News: 2024 D&D Players Handbook Playtest 5
24:48 DM Tip: Mass Effect Style Preludes and Wars
33:46 DM Tip: Tuning the Lazy Encounter Bechmark
38:34 Patreon Question: Chat GPT and AI For Adventure Generation
44:26 Patreon Question: Running Ship Battles in Light of Xaryxis
47:40 Patreon Question: Character Grabbing the Wrong Hook

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 22 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 03:04:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Lazy GM’s Resource Document, Darrington Press RPGs, C7D20 Licensing – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 03:12:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:17 Sly Flourish News: The Lazy GM's Resource Document
18:21 D&D & RPG News: Darrington Press Roleplaying Games
22:19 D&D & RPG News: Chris Perkins on the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide
23:13 D&D & RPG News: Cubicle 7 on C7D20 Open Licensing
32:07 D&D & RPG News: More D&D Creator Summit Accounts
33:19 Patreon Question: Running High Level 5e Games
37:25 Patreon Question: Pointing Out Magic Items to Characters
40:16 Patreon Question: Tying Together Independent Published Adventures
43:04 Patreon Question: 5e Cross Compatibility Among Publishers

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 21 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 03:18:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Blood and Doom, SF Books in the CC, 5e Backward Compatibility – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 03:54:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:02 Product Spotlight: Regnum Rattus - The Rats in the Cellar
02:50 Product Spotlight: Iskandar Explorer's Journal Volume 1
04:36 Kickstarter Spotlight: Blood and Doom
11:24 Sly Flourish News: Three Books Released to the Creative Commons
14:21 Commentary: What's Changed over 13 Years of Lazy DMing?
27:52 Sly Flourish News: More Material to the Creative Commons
31:41 Commentary: What Does 5e Backward Compatibility Mean?
49:04 Patreon Question: Dealing with Non-Heroic Heroes
53:37 Patreon Question: Convincing a DM to Run Online Games
55:27 Patreon Question: Initiation Quests to Get Into a Cult
57:35 Patreon Question: Challenging Tier 4 Characters

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 20 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 03:49:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

D&D Creator Summit Recap and Discussion – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 02:47:00 -0400

Mike talks about the D&D Creator Summit with a focus on what matters most to 5e DMs and GMs.

Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:10 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press's Black Flag is Tales of the Valiant
02:48 D&D & RPG News: The ORC Open Gaming License Draft Released
05:18 D&D & RPG News: Thirteenth Age Humble Bundle
06:21 D&D & RPG News: D&D Summit Writeups by Others
07:05 D&D & RPG News: D&D Summit Top Three Observations for D&D DMs
10:51 D&D & RPG News: Looking Into the D&D Summit Organization, Missteps, and Recommendations for Next Time
18:50 D&D & RPG News: D&D Summit 2024 Core Book Updates
39:40 D&D & RPG News: The Format of Planescape
41:08 D&D & RPG News: Thoughts on a D&D Beyond Marketplace
44:51 D&D & RPG News: Other News from the D&D Summit
50:05 Patreon Question: What Should the Dungeon Master's Guide Do?
51:44 Patreon Question: Challenges for 11th+ Level Characers

Links

D&D Direct, D&D Summit, D&D 3D VTT, C7D20 Design – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 03:51:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:22 D&D & RPG News: D&D Direct Announcements
05:50 D&D & RPG News: D&D 3D Virtual Tabletop First Look
09:54 D&D & RPG News: More Announcements from D&D Direct
13:03 D&D & RPG News: The D&D Virtual Summit
17:07 D&D & RPG News: PlayDnD and D&D Beyond 1st Level Pregens
21:04 D&D & RPG News: Cubicle 7's Design Goals for C7D20
25:22 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Ancestries
27:09 Patreon Question: Getting Better at Being a DM
30:54 Patreon Question: Using Random Tables for Prep or At The Table?
33:12 Patreon Question: Using D&D For Facing with Real Life Issues
35:35 Patreon Question: Too Many NPCs as Upward Beats in a Dungeon Crawl
37:38 Patreon Question: Getting Through Lots of Story in Shorter Sessions
41:54 Patreon Question: Running Online With Some Players At Same Location
44:41 Patreon Question: How's Dungeon 23 Working Out?
48:05 Patreon Question: Dealing With High Passive Insight
50:20 Patreon Question: Offering Three Plus Infinite Choices
52:07 Patreon Question: Building Shorter Campaigns for 8 to 12 Sessions

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 19 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 03:06:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes Previews, DDB Appearance, Antifragile RPGs, Desires for WOTC – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 03:22:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:09 Sly Flourish News: Final Week of Forge of Foes
12:08 Sly Flourish News: Appearance on D&D Beyond Twitch Stream
13:41 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Interview on EN World
14:30 Commentary: The Resilience and Antifragility of Tabletop RPGs
25:22 Commentary: What can WOTC Do for the RPG Community?
44:22 D&D & RPG News: Before the Storm D&D Intro on D&D Beyond
45:30 Patreon Question: Avoiding Bioessentialism in 5e RPGs
52:05 Patreon Question: Low Fantasy Survival Horror in 5e
56:18 Patreon Question: Dealing with Lots of Overpowered Tag Along NPCs

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 18 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 03:10:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes CC, General Use Stat Blocks, Black Flag Playtest 2, Arcane Library – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 03:42:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:23 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Material Going to Creative Commons
03:33 Sly Flourish News: General-Use Stat Blocks for 5e in Forge of Foes
16:11 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Kickstarter June 2023
17:13 Product Spotlight: Arcane Library Adventures for 5e
31:21 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Black Flag Playtest 2
53:53 Patreon Question: Why Make a Book About Building Monsters?
57:01 Patreon Question: Playing D&D with Small Children or Obstructive Pets

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 17-2 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 03:58:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes, Radiant Citadel Nebula, Cities and Towns Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show #dnd

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0400

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:36 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Kickstarter Continues
02:52 D&D & RPG News: Radiant Citadel Nominated for a Nebula
03:53 D&D & RPG News: Tome of Beasts 1 Revisited
05:39 Product Spotlight: Campaign Builder - Cities and Towns by Kobold Press
14:24 D&D & RPG News: D&D Community Update
19:22 D&D & RPG News: D&D Content Creator's Summit
21:43 Commentary: How Can Wizards be a Stronger Positive Force in the RPG Community?
38:59 Patreon Question: Modifying NPCs with Species Traits
42:07 Patreon Question: The Challenge of Discovering Secrets
45:28 Patreon Question: Integrating In Disconnected Characters
50:10 Patreon Question: Using Dice for Other Things In-World

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 17 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 03:11:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes, Shadowdark RPG, Open5e, Feb Patreon Questions – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 03:06:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:07 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Kickstarter Going On Right Now!
02:48 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadowdark RPG by Arcane Library
10:58 Product Spotlight: Open5e.com
18:01 Patreon Question: How to Handle Maps for Exploration
20:55 Patreon Question: Teaching New Systems to Players
23:25 Patreon Question: Taking Notes while Running a Game
25:45 Patreon Question: Helping Players Balance Character Types and Skills
27:59 Patreon Question: Not Offering Custom Lineage or Variant Humans -- Is that Wrong?
30:54 Patreon Question: Accomidating a Players's Spirit Being In Your Game
35:48 Patreon Question: Overwhelmed by Midgard Lore
40:49 Patreon Question: Dealing with Shopping Sessions
44:54 Patreon Question: Balancing Encounters in High Magic Item Campaigns
47:47 Patreon Question: Adopting the Eight Steps to Gumshoe Games

Links

Empire of the Ghouls Chapter 2 Tips and Experiences

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 04:43:00 -0500

Mike shares his tips and experiences for running Chapter 2 of Empire of the Ghouls!

Forge of Foes, MCG Bundle of Holding, One D&D Playtest, Iskandar PHB – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 03:33:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:55 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Kickstarter This Wednesday!
02:04 D&D & RPG News: Arcana of the Ancients Bundle of Holding
03:48 D&D & RPG News: Mastering Dungeons on Shadow of the Demon Lord
04:26 D&D & RPG News: New One D&D Playtest
23:03 Product Spotlight: Iskandar Player's Handbook
31:25 Patreon Question: Co-DMing Two Groups in the Same Campaign Adventure
34:40 Patreon Question: Managing and Referencing So Many Monster Books
38:26 Patreon Question: Updates to the 5e Artisenal Monster Database in Notion
43:42 Patreon Question: Worldbuilding Book recommendations
45:37 Patreon Question: Sharing RPG PDFs with Google Drive
49:02 Patreon Question: Running D&D for a 5 year Old
51:12 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Be More Tactical

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 16 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 03:08:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes, Valikan Clans, Black Flag, Nexus 5e, A5E Trials and Treasure – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 03:45:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:17 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Kickstarter Coming March 1st
13:20 Kickstarter Spotlight: Valikan Clans by Ghostfire Gaming
16:35 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Black Flag Playtest 1
35:05 D&D & RPG News: Demiplane 5e Nexus and the Future of Digital 5e Tools
40:43 Product Spotlight: Level Up Advanced 5e Trials and Treasure by EN World Publishing
50:20 Patreon Question: The Future of RPGs -- 5e or Independent RPGs?

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 15 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 03:09:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Forge of Foes KS, City of Arches Updates, Kyle Brinks Interviews, KS Spotlights – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 04:08:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes Kickstarter 1 March
03:28 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Updates
10:58 Commentary: Kyle Brinks and the Future of D&D from Wizards of the Coast
28:31 Kickstarter Spotlight: Escape from Undergarden by JVC Parry
30:58 Kickstarter Spotlight: Encyclopedia 2 by Studio Agate
38:25 Patreon Question: Overwhelmed Running Big Published Campaigns
42:02 Patreon Question: Players Voting on Campaign Adventures to Run
44:30 Patreon Question: How Long to Prep Games and Generate Ideas?
48:03 Patreon Question: Running Shorter Sessions

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 14 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 03:59:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Pathfinder 2 and Kobold Press Bundles, Post-OGL New Normal, Serpent Sea Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:29:20 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:09 D&D & RPG News: Pathfinder 2 Humble Bundles
02:56 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Worlds Humble Bundle
04:21 Commentary: What's Normal in the Post OGL Fiasco RPG Hobby?
15:56 D&D & RPG News: Keys from the Golden Vault Free Adventure
18:02 Product Spotlight: Raiders of the Serpent Sea by Arcanum Worlds
24:23 Kickstarter Spotlight: Kibbles Compendium of Legends and Legacies
30:07 Patreon Question: Lazy Encounter Benchmark for Solo and Legendary Monsters
35:18 Patreon Question: Players Making Choices Against a Chracter's Alignment
38:33 Patreon Question: Converting Monsters Across RPG Systems? Reskin!
41:03 Patreon Question: Worried About Making Mistakes with Big Published Adventures
45:40 Patreon Question: Free to Use Dungeons of Fate?

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 13 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 04:45:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

WOTC releases 5e in the CC, Trusting WOTC, Oracle Char KS, Zobeck Sourcebook – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 03:59:00 -0500

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:13 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Releases 5e Into the Creative Commons
11:15 Commentary: What Does Trust Mean with Wizards of the Coast?
27:50 Sly Flourish News: Lazy RPG Podcast Awarded Best Talk Show Podcast by EN World
30:01 Kickstarter Spotlight: Oracle Character Generator Deck by Nord Games
34:41 Product Spotlight: Zobeck Clockwork City by Kobold Press
40:00 Patreon Question: Running Rich and Dynamic Combat Encounters
47:22 Patreon Question: Not Exposing a Movie-Based Adventure Plot
49:19 Patreon Question: Building a Villain or Monster from a PC
51:06 Patreon Question: How Many Rounds Should Encounters Go?
52:19 Patreon Question: Other RPGs I'm Running This Year?
53:16 Patreon Question: Finishing Writing One-Shot Adventures
57:11 Patreon Question: Balancing the Action Economy with Big Solo Monsters

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 12 – Lazy GM Prep

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 03:47:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

OGL1.2 Feedback, Industry Response, My Promise to You, RPG Bundles, Deep Magic 2 KS – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 03:51:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:32 D&D & RPG News: OGL 1.2 Feedback and Suggestions
11:33 D&D & RPG News: The Industry Responds to the attempted OGL 1.0a Deauthorization
17:37 Commentary: Rebranding the Lazy RPG Talk Show
18:40 Commentary: I'm Here For You Whatever RPG You Play
21:47 DM Tip: Curing the OGL Blues
23:41 Kickstarter Spotlight: Deep Magic 2
26:27 D&D & RPG News: Two Huge Bundles of Holding and Humble Bundles
29:04 Patreon Question: Keeping Your Games on Track
32:51 Patreon Question: Running Games for Seven Players
35:41 Patreon Question: Introducing Lots of NPCs at Once
37:48 Patreon Question: Fueling Creativity
44:12 Patreon Question: Identifying Relics and Single-Use Magic Items
46:29 Patreon Question: Improving Representation in Older Material

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 11 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

WOTC, the OGL and Us – and Ten RPGs that Aren’t D&D

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0500

Mike talks about the OGL fiasco and offers up ten awesome RPGs that aren't D&D.

00:00 Show Intro
01:09 This Matters to All Of Us
03:35 WOTC's Excuses Hold No Water At All
07:53 What's Happening Now
08:45 We Can Never Trust WOTC Again
09:58 What Can We Do About This?
12:37 Ten Awesome RPGs that Aren't D&D
13:19 13th Age
15:56 Blades in the Dark
17:31 Fantasy Age
19:01 The Non-OGL Fantasy Bundle of Holding
19:38 Fate Condensed
21:41 Index Card RPG
23:44 Ironsworn
25:26 Level Up Advanced 5e
26:49 Numenera
28:59 Old School Essentials
30:55 Shadow of the Demon Lord

Links

Final December 2022 Patreon Q&A – Lazy D&D Talk Show #dnd #lazydm

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 03:42:00 -0500

Mike covers the remaining Sly Flourish Patreon questions for December 2022!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:48 Patreon Question: Replacing or Houserulling 5e Mechanics and Favorite Houserules
06:17 Patreon Question: Dealing with Followers from a Rod of Rulership
08:30 Patreon Question: Offering Multiple Paths with Diviniation
10:38 Patreon Question: Handling NPCs with the Lazy Encounter Benchmark
13:53 Patreon Question: Offering Options when Captured
15:54 Patreon Question: Learning a New RPG With Your Players
17:38 Patreon Question: Trouble Committing to Deadly Attacks
20:21 Patreon Question: Making D&D Deadlier
22:25 Patreon Question: Alternative Patrons like Koblold Press's Warlock
24:31 Patreon Question: Making Undead Monster Variants
27:41 Patreon Question: Dungeon 23

Links

One D&D OGL 1.1, Alternative Objectives for 5e, Favorite 2022 RPG Product – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 02:14:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:13 D&D & RPG News: 13th Age Bundle of Holding
05:28 Commentary: How to Skip Content you Don't Want to Hear
06:52 Commentary: The WOTC OGL 1.1 Announcement
28:54 Product Spotlight: Alternate Objectives by Sneak AttackPress
33:14 Commentary: Favorite Product of 2022
37:27 Patreon Question: Connecting Published Adventures
41:12 Patreon Question: When to Use Which Dials of Monster Difficulty
46:10 Patreon Question: Thoughts on Owlbear Rodeo 2.0
50:35 Patreon Question: Making Failure Interesting with Ability Checks
53:58 Patreon Question: Performing Mid-Campaign Check-Ins
56:33 Patreon Question: Revealing a Pointcrawl Map
59:11 Patreon Question: Using AI Generators like Chat GPT and Midjourney

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 10 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 02:29:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Rolling Lots of Checks, Chronicles of Eberron, Baselining 5e Monsters, Flee Mortals Vampires – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:24:52 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:03 DM Tip: Rolling Lots of Checks with a Single D20
00:10:51 Product Spotlight: Chronicles of Eberron
00:26:28 Commentary: How I Baseline D&D Monsters
00:34:00 Commentary: Designing MCDM's Flee Mortals Vampires
00:51:31 Patreon Question: What Are My DM Weaknesses?
00:54:38 Patreon Question: Handling Pacing in D&D Games
00:57:08 Patreon Question: Describing Old School Essentials to 5e Players
01:01:24 Patreon Question: Handling Large Exposition and Descriptions

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 9 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 04:14:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Tome of Beasts 3 Cards, Blades Bundle, Dragonlance Monsters, Arcadia 22 – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 04:12:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:55 Kickstarter Spotlight: Tome of Beasts 3 Monster Cards by Inkwell Ideas
04:05 D&D & RPG News: Blades in the Dark Bundle of Holding
05:34 D&D & RPG News: Free Monstrous Compendium 2: Dragonlance
27:37 Product Spotlight: Arcadia 22 Heroic Champions
36:37 Product Spotlight: GMs Miscellany Dungeon Dressing for 5e
45:07 Commentary: AI for DM Inspiration
48:18 Patreon Question: Tips for Running 20th Level One-Shot Games
52:04 Patreon Question: Campaign Hooks for West Marches Style Games
55:54 Patreon Question: Running Hordes and Minions

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 8 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 03:08:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

One D&D Species, Clerics, and Backward Compatibility; Tome of Beasts 3 – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 03:09:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:59 D&D & RPG News: One D&D Species and Cleric Playtest Packet.
07:07 Commentary: One D&D and Backward Compatibility
16:41 Commentary: One D&D Species and Cleric Playtest Thoughts
30:01 Product Spotlight: Tome of Beasts 3 by Kobold Press
42:56 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Adventure Calendar
43:47 Patreon Question: Droctor Who style Talk, Move, Do Fight in D&D Combat
46:45 Patreon Question: Speeding Up Dungeon Exploration from Dungeon-Crawling Players

Links

Empire of the Ghouls Chapter 2 Tips and DM Prep

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 03:45:00 -0500

Mike offers tips for chapter 2 of Empire of the Ghouls!

Leaving Twitter, Chronicles of Eberron, Dragonlance & Twilight Queen Spotlight – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 04:44:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:58 Sly Flourish News: Leaving Twitter for Mastodon
00:07:01 D&D & RPG News: Chronicles of Eberron by Keith Baker
00:08:23 Product Spotlight: Dragonlance Shadow of the Dragon Queen
00:41:17 D&D & RPG News: WOTC's Non-Answer About a One D&D SRD
00:45:26 Product Spotlight: Tomb of the Twilight Queen
00:50:17 Patreon Question: Incorporating Random Encounters
00:54:35 Patreon Question: Running Pointcrawls with Flying Characters
00:57:48 Patreon Question: Supporting Players Who Roll Poorly
01:03:00 Patreon Question: Making Friends from Online D&D Games
01:08:30 Patreon Question: Favorite Cult and Why Cults?

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 7 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 03:14:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Level Up 5e Bundle of Holding, Alexandrian on Pointcrawls, One D&D and OGL – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 03:10:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:49 D&D & RPG News: Level Up Advanced 5e on Bundle of Holding
02:13 D&D & RPG News: Justin Alexander on Pointcrawls
03:56 D&D & RPG News: Morrus on One D&D and the Open Gaming License
08:57 D&D & RPG News: Dragon+ Goes Offline
14:04 D&D & RPG News: Is Takhisis Tiamat? Who Gets to Decide?
20:47 Patreon Question: Using Side Initiative
23:02 Patreon Question: Reading an Entire Campaign Adventure
24:37 Patreon Question: Making a Campaign World Feel Alive
26:56 Patreon Question: Curing Lycanthrope with a Wererat PC
29:52 Patreon Question: Focusing Over-Preparing
32:54 Patreon Question: Non-Lethal Attack Options
36:36 Patreon Question: Making NPCs Stand Out in Online Games
38:08 Patreon Question: Player-Driven Character Motivations

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 6 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 03:42:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Nov SF Patreon Updates, WOTC’s New Inclusivity Process, Jaquays-Style Design – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 03:07:00 -0500

D&D news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:59 Sly Flourish News: November Patreon Rewards
10:56 D&D & RPG News: WOTC's New Inclusivity Review
14:57 DM Tip: Jaquays-Style Design for Dungeon and Overland Travel
34:18 Patreon Question: Keeping Villains Alive in Combat
37:19 Patreon Question: Using Paper Notes for In-Person Games
40:19 Patreon Question: Mourning the End of a Campaign
42:05 Patreon Question: Deciding on a Campaign to Run
44:16 Patreon Question: Using Time Flies Rules from the Midgard Worldbook
46:35 Patreon Question: Tips for Promoting Paper Character Sheets with Players
48:58 Patreon Question: Scaling Up Monsters and their Stories to 11th level

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 5 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 03:49:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Mastering Dungeons Goes Indie, D&D on ESPN, D&D Kickstarter Spotlights – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:33:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:46 D&D & RPG News: Mastering Dungeons Goes Independent
02:39 D&D & RPG News: D&D on ESPN??
04:42 Kickstarter Spotlight: Heretics Guide to Devotion and Divinity
08:48 Kickstarter Spotlight: Ultimate Guide to Foraging, Harvesting, and Natural Discovery
16:41 Patreon Question: Managing Pacing with Heavy Roleplay Scenes
18:50 Patreon Question: Does Writing Help You Become a Better DM? No.
23:50 Patreon Question: Players Coordinating Leveling Up
25:51 Patreon Question: Magic Items for Higher-Level Pregen Characters
28:27 Patreon Question: Feelings on Boxed and Read-Aloud Text
31:41 Patreon Question: Heroes and Anti-Villains

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 4 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 02:27:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

MCDM RPG Safety Toolkit, The Gloaming Wild 5e Horror, Level Up 5e Vampires - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 03:27:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:51 D&D & RPG News: Free MCDM RPG Safety Toolkit
02:43 Kickstarter Spotlight: The Gloaming Wild 5e Survival Horror
08:06 Commentary: Running Ravenloft 2022 with Level Up 5e Vampires
17:11 Patreon Question: Keeping Big Battles from Being Boring
19:17 Patreon Question: What Other RPGs Do You Recommend?
21:44 Patreon Question: Filling In the Gaps During the Game
24:17 Patreon Question: Faction Ideas from Blades in the Dark
26:51 Patreon Question: Targeting Loot for the Characters
29:23 Patreon Question: Better Level Draining and Exhaustion for Vampires and
32:12 Patreon Question: What to Get for Staring Out with Numenera
32:59 Patreon Question: Comparing Midgard to the Forgotten Realms
37:51 Patreon Question: Including Every Character's Story Arc
40:24 Patreon Question: Showcasing High-Level Abilities
43:01 Patreon Question: Building Open World D&D Games
45:23 Patreon Question: Building Problems Without Solutions
46:58 Patreon Question: How Many Encounters Before a Long Rest?
51:12 Patreon Question: Offering Headquarters and Lair Upgrades to the Characters
53:05 Patreon Question: Secrets in Clues for Dungeon Crawls and Combat-Focused Games

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 3 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:57:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Running Dragons of Stormwreck Isle – Tips for New D&D DMs

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 03:06:00 -0400

Mike offers tips, tricks, and advice for running the D&D Starter Set adventure, Dragons of Stormwreck Isle!

Contents

00:00 Video Start
00:13 Who This Video is For
00:54 Top Tips for Running Stormwreck Isle
01:28 Tip 1: Keep your Hands on the Dials of Combat
02:02 Tip 2: Dive Deep into the Lore
03:25 Tip 3: Remember Runara's Failsafe
04:33 Read the Pregen Character Background Ties to the Adventure
05:08 Read the DM Tips in the Adventure Book
05:49 Running Stormwreck Isle Online
06:33 Tools for Playing Stormwreck in Person
07:15 Tips for Chapter 1 - Dragon's Rest
08:08 Choose How to Run Combat
09:06 Handling Undead Fortitude
09:55 Manage the NPCs of Dragon's Rest
11:21 Combining Additional Encounters
12:39 Tips for Chapter 2 - Seagrow Caves
14:30 Tips for Chapter 3 - The Cursed Shipwreck
15:30 Tips for Chapter 4 - The Clifftop Observatory
16:58 Follow-on Adventures

Links

Harvest Moons Kickstarter, Venture Maidens Campaign Guide, More on One D&D — Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 03:40:00 -0400

D&D News, Kickstarter spotlights, D&D product reviews, dungeon master tips, D&D questions and answers!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Under the Harvest Moons
09:15 Product Spotlight: Venture Maidens Campaign Guide
25:27 Commentary: D&D Lead Designer Ray Winninger Leaves Wizards of the Coast
31:43 D&D & RPG News: One D&D Expert Playtest Feedback Survey
38:32 Commentary: One D&D Ideas We Can Use Right Now
44:32 Patreon Question: Using NPCs as Assets in D&D Games
47:30 Patreon Question: Using 5e Rules with Numenera's Ninth World
49:53 Patreon Question: Props, Decorations, Accessories, and Themes in your D&D Games
52:59 Patreon Question: Filling Out Big Climactic Boss Battles

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 2 – Lazy DM Prep

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 03:17:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Silver Grotto adventure, Midgard Sale, Apocalypse and Spellhoarder Kickstarter – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 04:08:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:53 Sly Flourish News: New Patreon Adventure - The Silver Grotto
04:41 D&D & RPG News: Midgard Sale - 30% Off
07:02 Kickstarter Spotlight: Apocalypse - The Complete Guide to Ending the World
09:05 Kickstarter Spotlight: Torrents of the Spellhoarder
13:17 Commentary: Elder Brain 5e Survey
24:45 Commentary: Experiences Running Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
29:46 Patreon Question: Differences Between DMs and Players and Tips for DMs Becoming Players
35:07 Patreon Question: Adventure for New Local Game Shop Group
37:09 Patreon Question: Modifying Published Adventures with a Different Map
39:16 Patreon Question: Injecting Horror into our Adventures
42:11 Patreon Question: Pontification on RPGs Moving Towards Digital
49:09 Patreon Question: Warlock Patreon of Evil God?

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session 1– Lazy DM Prep

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 15:54:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his weekly Scarlet Citadel game!

Dread Thingonomicon, Grimoire of the Grave, New D&D Vice President – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 03:54:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:04 Sly Flourish News: Stars Over Stormwreck Released on the DM's Guild
01:42 Product Spotlight: Dread Thingonomicon by Raging Swan Press
10:46 Kickstarter Spotlight: Grimoire of the Grave by 2C Gaming
15:56 Sly Flourish News: Dungeoncraft Review of the Lazy DM's Workbook and Lazy DM's Companion
16:49 D&D & RPG News: New Senior Vice President of D&D
26:37 Commentary: Keeping D&D Resilient for Us and our Groups
32:30 D&D & RPG News: Other Commentaries on the One D&D Experts Playtest
33:56 D&D & RPG News: D&D Lego Contest
36:48 Patreon Question: New Lazy Combat Encounter Benchmark for One D&D?
39:11 Patreon Question: How to Destroy Artifacts
41:27 Patreon Question: Managing Dungeon Crawling and Offering Useful Options
44:02 Patreon Question: Good Material from Older Editions
47:37 Patreon Question: Changing Character Personalities with Magic Items

Links

Scarlet Citadel Session Zero - Lazy D&D Prep

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:35:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his session zero of his Scarlet Citadel D&D Campaign by Kobold Press.

Numenera Campaign Finale – Tips, Final Thoughts, Player Feedback

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:31:00 -0400

Mike talks about his campaign finale for his Numenera Fourth Emperor Campaign, offers tips for D&D DMs and those interested in running Numenera, and discusses feedback from his players!

Final September 2022 Patreon Q&A – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 02:29:00 -0400

Mike covers the remaining Patreon questions for September 2022!

Links

Free D&D Encounter, One D&D Expert Playtest, Editions Don’t Matter – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 03:48:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:23 D&D & RPG News: Free Drowned Sailors Encounter from WOTC
00:02:24 Sly Flourish News: Stars Over Stormwreck Adventure Coming This Week!
00:11:11 Commentary: The One D&D Experts Playtest
00:40:14 Commentary: Dungeoncraft on Why D&D Editions Don't Matter
00:45:07 RPG Industry Tip: Teos Abadia on Freelance Rates
00:48:34 Patreon Question: Your Thoughts and Plans for Patreon
00:52:27 Patreon Question: Practical Jokes with Tiny Hut
00:54:10 Patreon Question: Experienced Player Tips for Inexperienced DMs
00:56:22 Patreon Question: The Three Most Useful Third-Party Products
00:58:28 Patreon Question: What's In Front Of You When You DM?
01:00:50 Patreon Question: How Do You Choose and Run Lots of Campaigns?
01:03:11 Patreon Question: Helping New Players Avoid Bad Choices
01:05:40 Patreon Question: Charismatic Players with Non-Charismatic Characters
01:06:48 Patreon Question: How to Get Value from Purchased RPG Material
01:09:19 Patreon Question: Is a Focused Campaign Railroading?

Links

Numenera Session 27 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 03:58:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run the finale of his Numenera campaign!

D&D After-School Program, 3rd Party D&D Books and Online Tools, Sharing 3rd Party Books – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 03:10:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:47 D&D & RPG News: WOTC D&D After-School Program
03:01 Commentary: Good Digital Tools for WOTC + Third Party Product Use
22:50 DM Tip: Sharing Third Party PDFs With Your Players
29:52 Patreon Question: Running Wild Beyond the Witchlight for Tier 2 Characters
35:30 Patreon Question: When Is It Appropriate To Hit Downed PCs?
39:15 Patreon Question: Advice I Regret from Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
43:15 Patreon Question: Dealing With Player Optimizing Away From Fun
47:43 Patreon Question: Why Do NPCs Not Use Character Classes?
52:04 Patreon Question: Is 5e Too Complex?

Links

Numenera Session 26 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:37:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Amazing Encounters, Apocalypse Keys, Limitations of D&D Beyond – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:17:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:46 Product Spotlight: Amazing Encounters and Places by CZRPG
10:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Apocalypse Keys by Evil Hat Games
16:23 Commentary: D&D Beyond, Limiting Character Options, and Third Party Products
43:30 Sly Flourish News: The Sly Flourish Stream Bingo Card
44:57 Patreon Question: Running the Same Campaign for Multiple Groups
47:01 Patreon Question: D&D Plots and Inspiration from Westerns
50:32 Patreon Question: Conflicting Secrets and Clues? No Thanks!
52:34 Patreon Question: Describing Your DM Style to New Players

Links

Running Empire of the Ghouls – D&D Campaign Intro and Chapter1

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:19:00 -0400

Mike talks about preparing and running his Empire of the Ghouls campaign.

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:04 One-Page Campaign Guide
15:51 The Characters of My Campaign
19:08 Empire of the Ghouls as a Tour of Midgard
20:04 Using All the Kobold Press Books
24:26 Tome of Heroes and the Midgard Heroes Handbook
25:52 Sharing Books using Roll 20's Compendium
29:08 Other Kobold Press Books I'm Using
31:32 Running and Modifying Chapter 1

Links

Wastes of Chaos, Anatomy of an Adventure, Path of the Planebreaker - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 03:01:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:52 Kickstarter Spotlight: Wastes of Chaos by Kobold Press
05:41 Sly Flourish News: New Lazy D&D Talk Show Topic Database for Patrons
10:01 Kickstarter Spotlight: Anatomy of an Adventure by MT Black
13:11 Product Spotlight: Path of the Planebreaker by Monte CookGames
45:44 Patreon Question: Dealing with Secret Truths of a Campaign World
48:04 Patreon Question: AI-generated Art and the Lazy DM

Links

Numenera Session 25 Part 2 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 03:15:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

One D&D Playtest Survey, Spelljammer Errata, City of Arches Updates, Dungeon Delver’s Guide, Planegea - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 03:22:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:08 D&D & RPG News: One D&D Origins Playtest Survey
02:25 D&D & RPG News: Mastering Dungeons on the Origins One D&D Playtest
03:09 Patreon Update: World of Dead Temples and Secrets of Summervine Villa
07:49 D&D & RPG News: Spelljammer Errata
16:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dungeon Delver's Guide
20:31 Product Spotlight: Planegea
30:47 Commentary: I don't Review Third Party Products I Don't Like
36:05 Commentary: 5e Isn't 5e Compatible - We're On Our Own
46:23 Patreon Question: Strongest Criticism of Lazy DM Advice
48:59 Patreon Question: Adding a New Player Mid Campaign
51:00 Patreon Question: Spelljammer for New Players
52:50 Patreon Question: Adventure Anthologies and Heists
54:48 Patreon Question: Awarding Gold with the Lazy DM's Companion
58:03 Patreon Question: Tips for Reaching a Satisfying Campaign Conclusion

Links

Numenera Session 25 Part 1 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 03:25:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Dragonlance Preorder Refunds, Spelljammer Deep Dive, Drakkenheim and Devil’s Run Kickstarters - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 03:22:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D! This week a Spelljammer deep dive!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:51 D&D News: WOTC Offering Refunds for Dragonlance Pre-Orders
02:40 Kickstarter Spotlight: Horror at Devil's Run
05:32 Kickstarter Spotlight: Sebastian Crowe's Guide to Drakkenheim
07:30 Product Spotlight: Spelljammer - Adventure's In Space Boxed Set
09:11 Astral Adventurer's Guide - Spelljammer Character Options
14:35 Limited (No) Ship-to-Ship Combat Rules
17:19 Light of Xaryxis - the Spelljammer Adventure
20:17 Spelljammer DMScreen
21:07 Boo's Astral Menagerie - Spelljammer Monsters
31:55 Amazing Production Quality
33:01 No DM Tools to Build Spelljammer Adventures
37:31 Not Compatible with Spelljammer Academy
39:54 Spelljammer Doesn't Help DMs Run Games
40:45 Should You Buy It?
41:40 Patreon Question: Is Witchlight Still Great Without Dreadful Incursions?
43:33 Patreon Question: How Well Does Numenera's Stat Point Spend and Roll Negotiation Work?
46:53 Patreon Question: How Much Character Background for New Players?
49:05 Patreon Question: Making a Dungeon Feel Like a Megadungeon
51:20 Patreon Question: Actionable and Relevant Secrets and Clues

Links

Numenera Session 24 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 03:56:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

One D&D, D&D Origins Playtest, No-Refund Dragonlance, Phandelver, Planescape – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 03:49:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:58 The One D&D Announcement
02:45 One D&D and Backward Compatibility
04:25 Playtesting Experiences and Expectations
05:51 Providing Feedback
08:19 Looking at the First One D&D Playtest Document
08:53 Character Origins
13:25 On Power Increases
17:22 Changes to Fundamental Rules
18:10 A 20 Always Succeeds, a 1 Always Fails
20:24 Critical Hit Changes
23:50 Inspiration on a 20 - Should be a 1!!
25:51 Changes to Long Rests
26:45 One D&D 3D Virtual Tabletop Alpha screenshots
28:49 Does That Mean No 2d VTT in D&D Beyond?
29:53 Dragonlance - Wizards Took my $160 For Something I Don't Want and Won't Refund It
36:27 Five Other Books Announced for 2023
37:14 Phandelver Campaign - Eight Years Too Late
40:14 Book of Many Things
40:42 Planescape - Please Don't Make it a Boxed Set
43:57 Final Thoughts

Links

Numenera Session 23 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 03:06:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

13th Age Escalation Edition, New Ability Score Standard Array, Dungeons of Drakkenheim Spotlight – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 04:42:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:52 D&D & RPG News: New 13th Age in 2023
07:51 DM Tip: A New D&D Ability Score Standard Array
15:50 Product Spotlight: Dungeons of Drakkenheim
30:25 Patreon Question: Distinct Racial Characteristics for NPCs
33:10 Patreon Question: Making Prophecies Come True Without Railroading
35:07 Patreon Question: Inspiration for City of Arches
37:51 Patreon Question: "Milestone" Event-Based Leveling Without Removing Player
41:13 Patreon Question: Running Zero Prep One-Hour Games

Links

Numenera Deep Dive – Experiences and Tips for D&D DMs

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:58:00 -0400

Mike dives deep into the Numenera RPG by Monte Cook Games with tips and tricks for Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters.

Contents

00:00 What This Video Gives To You
00:56 What Is Numenera?
05:04 Top Three Favorite Things about Numenera
09:19 Three Challenges Running Numenera
17:47 Numenera Buyer's Guide
27:49 Bringing Your D&D to Numenera and Vice Versa
33:11 Ideas from Numenera You Can Bring to D&D
40:33 Other Thoughts About Numenera
46:02 Final Thoughts on Numenera

Links

2022 ENNIEs, Wizards Presents, Spelljammer, Face Folio, Encounter Building – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 03:39:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:49 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Wins Two ENNIES!
03:05 D&D and RPG News: Wizards Presents Announcements 18 August
05:16 D&D and RPG News: Final Spelljammer Academy Adventure
07:54 Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Character Sheet PDFs
09:23 Kickstarter Preview: Face Folio by M Blake
12:34 Commentary: Encounter Building by Dragna Carta
32:59 Patreon Question: Best Adventure for New Players
34:22 Patreon Question: Choosing Your Next Campaign With Your Players
36:56 Patreon Question: Building a Quest Board
39:23 Patreon Question: Not Enjoying Game Prep

Links

Numenera Session 22 Part 2 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:21:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Wild Beyond the Witchlight Chapter 4 and 5

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 03:51:00 -0400

Mike offers tips and tricks for running chapters 4 and 5 of Wild Beyond the Witchlight!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:51 Recommendation 1: Consider Dreadful Incursions
02:02 Recommendation 2: You Don't Have to Run All the NPCs
03:41 Recommendation 3: You Don't Have to Run Every Location or Encounter
04:16 Recommendation 4: Run Hag Lairs as Big Situations
05:09 Recommendation 5: You Can Ignore Valor's Call and the League of Malevolence
05:47 Recommendation 6: You Don't Have to Run All of the Palace of Heart's Desire
06:44 Recommendation 7: Add a Dark Lord Villain If Desired
07:43 Overall Campaign Thoughts Thus Far
08:41 Witchlight Chapter 4 - Yon Deep Dive
18:14 Motherhorn
19:52 Witchlight Chapter 5 - The Palace of Hearts Desire
21:27 The Final Battle
22:52 Saving Zybilna
24:15 One Year Later...

Links

D&D Starter Set Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Review, New SF Bookstore, DM David on Monster Roles – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 04:55:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:45 Product Spotlight: D&D Starter Set Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
18:03 Sly Flourish News:The Sly Flourish Bookstore is Open!
21:47 D&D News: DM David On Monster Roles
24:26 D&D News: ENWorld's Review of Radiant Citadel
25:16 Patreon Question: Banning and Limiting Material In Your Game
31:17 Patreon Question: Dealing with Tag-Along NPCs
32:13 Patreon Question: How Many Monster Types in a Battle?
33:18 Patreon Question: Players Catching On to Film Homage
34:37 Patreon Question: Stealing Ideas for Homebrew Campaign Setting
36:26 Patreon Question: Checklist for Building Situations
38:52 Patreon Question: Lazy Dungeon Mastering and the Quantum Ogreb
41:11 Patreon Question: Ranking Wild Beyond the Witchlight
42:14 Patreon Question: Dealing with Prisoners
44:53 Patreon Question: Pre-Gen Story Hooks for One-Shot Games

Links

Numenera Session 22 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:45:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Radiant Citadel, Spelljammer Academy, Wonders of the Multiverse Playtest – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 04:47:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:28 Product Spotlight:Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel
13:34 D&D News: Wonders of the Multiverse Unearthed Arcana
17:43 Commentary: Adding Reactions to the Resolution Stack
26:53 D&D News: New Spelljammer Academy Adventure Released
30:46 D&D News: Teos Abadia's Spelljammer Dispatch on Roll20
31:12 D&D News: Ben Riggs's TSR D&D Sales Stats
39:30 Patreon Question: Running Multiple Games a Week
42:28 Patreon Question: Meaningful Choices in Adventure Designb
45:06 Patreon Question: Running Too Many Different RPGs
47:57 Patreon Question: Running Streaming, Live Play, or Actual Play Games
52:16 Patreon Question: Players Drawing Other Players Into the Spotlight

Links

Numenera Session 21 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 04:41:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

2022 Ennies, Spelljammer Academy, Roll20 / DriveThruRPG Merger, D&D 5.5 – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:00 Sly Flourish News: Two SF Products Nominated for the 2022 ENnies!
03:10 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Updates and Walkthrough
11:24 D&D News: Free Spelljammer Academy Adventures
16:26 D&D News: Roll20 and DriveThruRPG Merger
23:10 D&D News: First Look at D&D 5.5 "Soon"
24:26 Commentary: What I Want from D&D 5.5
39:29 Patreon Question: Dealing with the characters of players who leave a campaign
41:13 Patreon Question: Introducing Large Cities
43:47 Patreon Question: Running multiple villainous factions in a dungeon
47:09 Patreon Question: Magic items with a price
49:00 Patreon Question: Keeping Prep-time Brief
51:08 Patreon Question: Using Subsystems
54:43 Patreon Question: Handling the Guidance Cantrip

Links

Numenera Session 20 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:12:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Lazy DM Companion KS Update, Ennie Nominations, Free Mork Borg, Best Tips Are Free – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 04:15:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:53 Sly Flourish News: Update on the Lazy DM Companion Kickstarter
06:00 Sly Flourish News: SlyFlourish.com and the Lazy DM's Companion Nominated for the Ennies!
07:34 Product Spotlight: Mork Borg Bare Bones Editon Free!
12:04 Sly Flourish News: Scarlet Citadel and Empire of the Ghouls for my Next D&D Campaigns
16:47 Commentary: Adding Third Party Character Options
25:53 Commentary: The Best Features for Near-Perfect D&D Games are Free
34:58 Patreon Question: What's Fun for Dungeon Masters?
41:57 Patreon Question: Handling Shopping Trips
46:01 Patreon Question: Making Players Like Your Patron
49:14 Patreon Question: D&D Stories for 14-Year-Old Silly Larsons

Links

Numenera Session 19 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 04:56:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Roll20 Partners with DM’s Guild, Level Up 5e NODES system, Revealing NPC Archetypes, Near-Perfect D&D Games - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 03:02:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:58 D&D and RPG News: Roll 20 Partners with the DM's Guild
03:43 D&D and RPG News: NODES system from Dungeon Delver's Guideb
09:46 DM Tip: More on Revealing NPC Archetypes
13:21 DM Tip: More on the Near-Perfect D&D Game
28:40 Patreon Question: Games Falling Flat with Disinterested Players
32:44 Patreon Question: Playeres Wasting Spells on Immune Creatures
35:03 Patreon Question: Good Third Party Books
36:23 Patreon Question: Changes to Improvised Statistics
40:12 Patreon Question: Digital Versus Analog Character Sheets
42:02 DM Tip: Write Down Page Numbers on Paper Character Sheets
43:19 Patreon Question: Running Campaigns with Often Absent Players
46:34 Patreon Question: Customizing Random Tables
50:56 Patreon Question: Determining Starting Gear for Higher Level Characters

Links

Numenera Session 18 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 03:52:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Free Radiant Citadel Chapter, Vecna in Play, Revealing NPC Archetypes, Near Perfect 10 Game – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 03:58:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:45 RPG News: Radiant Citadel Free Chapter
05:00 Commentary: Vecna in Actual Play
08:28 D&D Tip: Revealing NPC Archetypes
15:33 D&D Tip: What Does a Near Perfect 10 Game Look Like?
30:57 Patreon Question: Helping Players Think Creatively During Combat
36:54 Patreon Question: Staying Consistent with your Own Fiction
39:19 Patreon Question: Running "Good" Monsters
42:47 Patreon Question: Actionable Clues Versus General Lore
45:37 Patreon Question: Interesting Third Party Monsters
47:41 Patreon Question: How Many Secrets Do You Typically Reveal?

Links

Numenera Session 17 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 03:36:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Archlich from A5e, A5e Tools, Night of the Dissolution, Finding Your Passion – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 02:36:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

01:07 Product Spotlight: The Mouthless One Archlich from Level Up Advanced 5e
11:54 Product Spotlight: A5e.Tools Level Up Advanced 5e Resource Website
13:32 Product Spotlight: The Night of the Dissolution
20:17 RPG Industry Tip: Alphastream on Finding Your Passion
29:51 Patreon Question: Products of Drag and Drop Encounters for 5e
31:27 Patreon Question: Reviewing the Characters for One-Shot Adventures
33:32 Patreon Question: Content Creators for Player-Focused Tips
35:58 Patreon Question: Handling Character Death
39:13 Patreon Question: Building Challenging Combat Beyond the Four Dials
41:58 Patreon Questions: Which D&D Books Would You Buy in Order?

Links

Wild Beyond the Witchlight Chapter 3 + Dreadful Incursions!

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 05:48:00 -0400

Mike offers tips and tricks for running Wild Beyond the Witchlight Chapter 3 and how to incorporate Domains of Dread from Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft.

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
01:07 Witchlight Runs Well On It's Own
03:16 Customize the Getaway Gang
05:30 Use Nib as a Handy Vendor
07:14 Foreshadow the Jabberwock
09:31 Place the Unicorn Horn Before Loomlurch
11:00 Reveal Secrets and Clues at the Wayward Pool
12:13 Foreshadow Zybilna's True Origin
13:48 Run Loomlurch as a Situation
19:00 Little Oak can be a Mobile Home Base and Guide Across Thither to Yon
21:02 Final Thoughts on Chapter 3
21:36 Expanding Dreadful Incursions into Witchlight
23:37 Small Encounter-sized Incursions
25:55 Anchors Between Worlds
29:39 The Quest of the Dread Lord to Escape Their Doman
31:34 Tying Domains of Dread to the Characters

Links

Vecna Stat Block, Cypher Open License, Potbellied Guide to Villains and Lairs – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:53:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:55 D&D News: Vecna Stat Block
19:56 RPG News: Cypher System Open License
20:49 Product Spotlight: Potbellied Kobold's Guide to Villains and Lairs
24:03 D&D Tip: Running War Priests and Enchanters
33:39 Patreon Question: Dealing with Overly Cautious Players
37:46 Patreon Question: Reading and Running Published Adventure Text
42:14 Patreon Question: Exposing Narratives and Events Outside of the Characters
44:05 Patreon Question: Tying Characters to the Game with Limited Background Lore
45:54 Patreon Question: Influences on our Games

Links

Numenera Session 16 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:16:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

City of Arches Updates, Battle Walker from the Abyss, Focus on the Story - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 04:19:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:43 Sly Flourish News: New Campaign Arc in City of Arches
08:52 Product Spotlight: Battle Walker from the Abyss
14:28 DM Tip: Focusing on the Fiction and Starting with the Story
39:42 DM Tip: Focusing the Lens
45:20 Patreon Question: Hooking Characters Into Adventures
49:17 Patreon Question: Heralds for Factions
51:31 Patreon Question: Heuristics for Running Current and Future D&D Concepts

Links

Numenera Session 15 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:50:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Arcadia 16 Blackweald, Defining Success in RPG Publishing, Monsters of the Multiverse Part 2 – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 30 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:45 Product Spotlight: Arcadia 16 and the Blackweald
00:09:14 Product Spotlight: Alphastream on Defining Your Success in RPGs
00:13:29 Product Spotlight: Monsters of the Multiverse Part 2
00:38:20 Patreon Question: How can DMs Enjoy Being Players?
00:41:51 Patreon Question: Running Third Party Campaigns with D&D Beyond
00:46:01 Patreon Question: Choosing a VTT to Invest In
00:49:42 Patreon Question: Collapsing a Wide-Spread Campaign
00:51:50 Patreon Question: Running Strahd
00:53:59 Patreon Question: Sharing Villainous Plans and Actions
00:55:24 Patreon Question: Choosing Third Party Character Options
00:56:35 Patreon Question: Running Multi-Table Events
00:58:35 Patreon Question: Using Gold in Mythic Adventures
01:00:25 Patreon Question: Defining Leveling Milestones
01:01:38 Patreon Question: Drawing Out Character Backstory
01:02:37 Patreon Question: Managing Chaotic Characters
01:05:17 Patreon Question: Recognizing GM Burnout
01:07:46 Patreon Question: Surprise Twists in D&D Campaigns

Links

Numenera Session 14 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 26 May 2022 04:40:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Free Phandelver and Acq Inc, Monsters of the Multiverse, Shielding Peaks KS, Treacherous Traps – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 23 May 2022 03:53:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:44 D&D News: Free Phandelver and Acq Inc on D&D Beyond
02:21 Product Spotlight: Monsters of the Multiverse
30:35 Kickstarter Spotlight: Murder in the Shielding Peaks
34:13 Product Spotlight: Treacherous Traps
37:14 Patreon Question: Encouraging Player Ingenuity
40:40 Patreon Question: Running Dungeon Crawls
48:31 Patreon Question: Describing Irregular Caves in a Dungeon Crawl
49:52 Patreon Question: Witchlight with Three Players
52:17 Patreon Question: Resource Management During Travel

Links

Numenera Session 13 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 19 May 2022 05:30:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

No More Volo’s Guide or Tome of Foes, Above VTT, Cities and Towns Kickstarter - Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 16 May 2022 06:45:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
01:00 D&D News: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes Comes Out on 16 May
02:01 D&D News: Can't Buy Tome of Foes or Volo's Guide to Monsters on D&D Beyond after 17 May
05:57 Product Spotlight: Above VTT
19:00 Kickstarter Spotlight: Campaign Builder - Cities and Towns
20:46 D&D Tip: Hex Flowers
31:37 Patreon Question: Introducing Villains in your Campaign
34:22 Patreon Question: Challenging Characters vs. Players with Puzzles
37:47 Patreon Question: Dealing with Bickering Players
41:55 Patreon Question: Evoking High Adventure in our RPGs
45:30 Patreon Question: Pacing Games with Split Parties
47:30 Patreon Question: What To Do With Gold
50:53 Patreon Question: Focusing a Homebrew Campaign

Links

Numenera Session 12 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 05 May 2022 03:59:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

City of Arches Update, Krynn Revisited, Dungeonmorph’s IV, Fraternity of Ash, Isle of Dreaded Accursed –Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 02 May 2022 04:04:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Intro
00:00:54 Sly Flourish News: Update to the City of Arches
00:04:15 D&D News: Heroes of Krynn Revisited Unearthed Arcana
00:08:25 Kickstarter Spotlight: Dungeonmorphs IV
00:12:58 Kickstarter Spotlight: Fraternity of Ash
00:15:40 Product Spotlight: Isle of the Dreaded Accursed
00:18:49 Patreon Question: Building Resilient Villainous Plans
00:23:30 Patreon Question: Points-of-Light Settings for Lazy DMs
00:25:54 Patreon Question: Long-Ranged Combat
00:27:42 Patreon Question: Reskin or Build a Big Bad Evil Mage From Scratch?
00:32:06 Patreon Question: Integrating Characters of Stand-By Players
00:34:22 Patreon Question: Managing Conflicting Factions
00:35:47 Patreon Question: Too Many Pirate Lords!
00:37:17 Patreon Question: Building an Apocalyptic Eberron
00:39:27 Patreon Question: Handling a Situation Where you Crossed the Line Accidentally
00:43:44 Patreon Question: Managing Portals in the City of Arches
00:46:04 Patreon Question: Published Inspiration for Homebrew Campaigns
00:47:59 Patreon Question: Handling In-World Pacing Problems
00:50:09 Patreon Question: Surprising Players vs. Surprising Characters
00:52:50 Patreon Question: Managing Political Intrigue the Lazy Way
00:54:39 Patreon Question: Managing Before-Combat Attacks and Actions
00:56:20 Patreon Question: Managing Downtime Activities
00:57:33 Patreon Question: Rewarding and Balancing Named Spells
00:59:09 Patreon Question: Managing Adventures Focused on a Missing Character
01:00:31 Patreon Question: Managing Timing While Running Fall of Elturel

Links

Numenera Session 11 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 06:17:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Spelljammer, Dragon of Stormwreck Isle, Dragonlance, Shadow Under Hardflint Hall – D&D Talk Show

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 04:28:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:51 D&D News: Last Days of the Sly Flourish Bundle of Holding
01:56 D&D News: Lots of Wizards Announcements
02:13 D&D News: The Monstrous Compendium Volume 1
07:06 D&D News: Campaign Case - Creatures
10:01 D&D News: Campaign Case - Terrain
11:30 D&D News: D&D Starter Set - Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
12:59 D&D News: Spelljammer Boxed Set
16:58 D&D News: Dragonlance - Shadow of the Dragon Queen and War of Krynn
21:14 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadow Under Hardflint Hall
24:46 Patreon Question: Who Do I Listen To, Watch, and Read?
28:34 Patreon Question: On Fudging Rolls and Choosing Targets
31:49 Patreon Question: Dealing with Familiars and Dungeon Reconnaissance
36:06 Patreon Question: How Do we Actually Begin our Sessions?
38:46 Patreon Question: Introducing Players to Other Game Systems
40:32 Patreon Question: Making NPCs Distinct
42:00 Patreon Question: How Strict to Represent Time Pressures
44:05 Patreon Question: Should I Worry about my Evil PC?
46:27 Patreon Question: Projecting Evil Humanoid Creatures
48:21 Patreon Question: What Bad Habits Have I Broken?
51:31 Patreon Question: Checklist for Homebrew Finales
55:14 Patreon Question: Running Deadly Standoffs in D&D

Links

Running Wild Beyond the Witchlight Chapter 2

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:59:00 -0400

Mike offers tips and thoughts for running Chapter 2 of Wild Beyond the Witchlight!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:37 Four Tips for Witchlight Chapter 2
01:01 Tip 1: Reinforce the Theme of Whimsy and Wonder
02:19 Tip 2: Reinforce the Characters' Goals
04:34 Tip 3: Solidify the Chapter's Main Required Progression Key: Clapperclaw
05:42 Tip 4: Limit Agdon Longscarf's Multi-attack
07:48 Witchlight Runs Great On It's Own
09:01 Injecting Dreadful Incursions from Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
14:29 Reinforce the Rules of Conduct
15:46 Manage Your Upward and Downward Beats
19:24 Make Telemy Hill Dangerous
20:19 Fall in Love with the Soggy Court
22:56 Lots of Options for Bavlorna and her Cottage
25:08 Choose Where you Put the Unicorn Horn
25:51 Add a Vendor
27:14 Fill Out Empty Locations As Desired
28:07 Be Careful While Leveling Slowly
29:33 Foreshadow the League of Malevolence
30:14 Show The Maps

Links

WOTC Buys D&D Beyond, D&D Direct Announcement, Flee Mortals Kickstarter, Volo’s Vetted Vendors – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 05:39:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:41 D&D News: Sly Flourish Bundle of Holding
02:02 D&D News: WOTC Buys D&D Beyond
08:56 D&D News: D&D Direct Announcements Coming Thursday 21 April 2022
10:05 Kickstarter Spotlight: Flee Mortals by MCDM
29:30 Product Spotlight: Volo's Vetted Vendors
33:06 Patreon Question: Seeding Future Quests Without Starting Them
36:41 Patreon Question: Handling Augury
39:00 Patreon Question: Manging Sources and Books for Game Prep
41:40 Patreon Question: Handling Curses That Remove Curse Doesn't Fix
45:15 Patreon Question: Running a Rebellion
48:13 Patreon Question: Uncomfortable Roleplaying NPCs
50:27 Patreon Question: Passing Complex Lore to Players
53:06 Patreon Question: Handling Mounts in Combat
55:03 Patreon Question: Strong Starts and Cold Opens

Links

Numenera Session 10 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:32:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

SF Bundle of Holding, City of Arches, Kenku.fm, Tome of Adventure Design – Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 05:31:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:10 D&D News: Sly Flourish Bundle of Holding! $100 of PDFs for $20!
03:33 D&D News: City of Arches Update with Amazing Side-View Cutaway Map
11:42 Product Spotlight: Kenku.fm
18:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Tome of Adventure Design
26:24 Patreon Question: Fast and Slow Initiative in D&D 5e
30:23 Patreon Question: Run Eberron in Sharn and in the Wilds
32:33 Patreon Question: Five Elements of Storytelling in D&D
37:01 Patreon Question: Players Running NPCs or Monsters
39:07 Patreon Question: Tactical Combat in Theater of the Mind
44:04 Patreon Question: Managing On-Call Players
47:48 Patreon Question: Recovering from a Bad Game

Links

Numenera Session 9 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 04:58:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Spelljammer Confirmed??, Crown of the Oathbreaker, 2,000 player survey data, Patreon Q&A – Lazy D&D TalkShow

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 05:05:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:49 D&D News: Spelljammer Confirmed??
08:38 Product Spotlight: Crown of the Oathbreaker
18:06 Commentary: Elderbrain's 2,000 Player D&D Survey
25:04 D&D News: Patreon Q&A for April 2022 Coming Wednesday
27:16 Patreon Question: Evolving Villain Stat Blocks
31:29 Patreon Question: Favorite Classic D&D Encounters
33:04 Patreon Question: Dealing with Insight Checks for Lie Detection
36:41 Patreon Question: Making Awesome Skeletons
41:06 Patreon Question: Helping Players Understand High Level Quests
45:28 Patreon Question: What Makes a Good Cultist?
47:04 Patreon Question: Mixing Ruins of the Grendleroot and Where the Machines Wait
48:51 Patreon Question: Outlining Scenes vs. Defining Situations

Links

Numenera Session 8 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:07:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Radiant Citadel, Warlock Lairs Into the Wilds, Intractable Map Problems – The Lazy D&D Talk Show

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 05:05:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:36 D&D News: Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
15:43 Product Spotlight: Warlock Lairs - Into the Wilds
21:09 Commentary: The Intractable Problem of Maps for In-Person Games
43:15 Patreon Question: Tracking Secret Organizations In Your Campaign
46:07 Patreon Question: How do You Grab Artwork?
47:33 Patreon Question: How Are Heists Different than Dungeon Crawls?
50:11 Patreon Question: Challenge Ratings for Custom Monsters
52:17 Patreon Question: Running a One- or Two-Hour Adventure
53:59 Patreon Question: How Do You Run a Dungeon?
56:16 Patreon Question: Solidifying Choices in a Homebrew Campaign
58:12 Patreon Question: Why Do Bosses Need Mobility?

Links

Numenera Session 7 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:51:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

D&D Product Announcements, Is Call from the Netherdeep For You?, Remarkable Guilds – D&D Talk Show

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 05:53:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:38 D&D News: New Product Announcements Tuesday
05:04 Product Spotlight: Call from the Netherdeep
22:32 Kickstarter Spotlight: Remarkable Guilds
27:16 DM Tip: Another Look at "Attack on a Miss"
35:22 Patreon Question: Players Won't Interact with Quest NPCs
40:30 Patreon Question: How to Use 3rd Party Monsters
44:57 Patreon Question: Villainous Banter During Combat
48:32 Patreon Question: Your Own Canon for Published Campaign Worlds
51:27 Patreon Question: All-in Group Checks and Secret Ability Checks
55:36 Patreon Question: Understanding Which Monster Make Sense For a Situation
59:14 Patreon Question: Overwhelmed with Locations and NPCs in Strixhaven

Links

Numenera Session 6 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:20:00 -0400

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Heroes of Krynn Playtest, Dwarven Forge adventures, Book of Wondrous Magic Vol 2

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 03:36:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:34 WOTC Product Spotlight: Heroes of Krynn Playtest
00:20:07 Product Spotlight: Book of Wondrous Magic Volume 2
00:27:18 Product Spotlight: Free Dwarven Forge Adventures
00:34:33 DM Tip: Attack Again on a Miss
00:39:19 RPG Industry Tip: Lunch break Heroes on Making Money in RPGs
00:45:59 Patreon Question: Scaling Combat for Six Players
00:49:32 Patreon Question: Lazy Tricks for Incorporating Character Backgrounds
00:53:39 Patreon Question: Tools for In-Person Games
00:56:47 Patreon Question: Handing Out Magic Items
00:59:32 Patreon Question: Best Adventure I've Ever Played In
01:01:16 Patreon Question: Running Structured Social Encounters
01:03:47 Patreon Question: Blades in the Dark for D&D Heists

Links

Numenera Session 5 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:27:00 -0500

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

February 2022 Sly Flourish Patreon Q&A

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 04:40:00 -0500

Mike covers the remainder of the February 2022 Sly Flourish Patreon questions!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:28 Commentary: Patreon Q&A Guidelines
01:41 Commentary: Disclaimer...I'm Just Sharing My Experiences
02:45 D&D News: The Lazy D&D Talk Show Topic Database
04:04 Patreon Question: Managing Mechanics-Focused Players
07:23 Patreon Question: Being Too Nice?
10:47 Patreon Question: Limiting Turn Time in Combat
13:55 Patreon Question: Druids Conjuring Giant Octopi
17:27 Patreon Question: Projecting Deadly Threats in Numenera
19:29 DM Tip: Limiting Polymorph by Treating Monster Sightings like Pokemon
20:46 Patreon Question: Getting Ideas for Fantastic Locations
22:53 Patreon Question: Managing Table Talk in Online Games
25:47 Patreon Question: Really Big Pointcrawls? Sure!
28:28 Patreon Question: Campaign Outlines for Lazy DMs?
31:08 Patreon Question: Player Agency with Dominated Characters
33:24 Patreon Question: What Program Did I Layout City of Arches In?
34:39 Patreon Question: Appendix N for Grendleroot Games
37:13 Patreon Question: Better System for Quest Rewards?
38:59 Patreon Question: Upward and Downward Beats During Combat
41:22 Patreon Question: Selecting Magic Items for Shopping Characters
43:37 Patreon Question: Experiences Writing City of Arches
51:42 Patreon Question: Telegraphing Deadly Situations

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show: City of Arches Update, Shift to Online Play, Cult of the Hydra

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 04:26:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:24 D&D News: City of Arches Updates
10:06 Commentary: The Shift to Online Play
18:08 Product Spotlight: Cult of the Hydra
26:44 Commentary: Writing Expensive Products for the DM's Guild
36:01 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Read the Books
40:34 Patreon Question: Building a Dark Lord Boss Monster
43:34 Patreon Question: Speeding Up Milestone Experience Rewards
46:00 Patreon Question: Introducing Villains All at Once or One At a Time
48:30 Patreon Question: Deadly Encounter Benchmark for Level 11+
54:01 Patreon Question: Experiences Playing Solo RPGs

Links

Numenera Session 4 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:30:00 -0500

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Let’s Make an Adventure with the Lazy DM’s Companion

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:54:00 -0500

Mike uses the Lazy DM's Companion and the City of Arches to put together a heist one-shot adventure! See the show notes for details

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show: City of Arches, Talk Show Topic Database, Uncaged Goddesses, Old School Essentials

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 04:06:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:23 City of Arches Player's Guide
00:02:39 City of Arches Map by Chloe Bollard
00:06:19 Obsidian Skull Patreon Adventure
00:08:26 Lazy D&D Talk Show Topic Database
00:13:38 Product Spotlight: Uncaged Godesses
00:27:57 Kickstarter Preview: Old School Essentials
00:34:57 Patreon Question: Lazy DM Steps for Sandbox Urban Adventures
00:39:30 Patreon Question: Tips for Running One-on-One D&D Games
00:42:16 Patreon Question: Tips for Describing Combat
00:44:14 Patreon Question: Player Worldbuilding
00:46:08 Patreon Question: Feats in DMG, Magic Items in PHB?
00:48:12 Patreon Question: Random Tables for Hunt-Based Adventure
00:51:01 Patreon Question: Character Race and WOTC Storylines
00:54:30 Patreon Question: Favorite Non-D&D RPG
00:55:17 Patreon Question: Lazy D&D Tips for Megadungeons
00:57:06 Patreon Question: Re-Balancing High Level Characters
01:00:13 Patreon Question: Filtering New Players for Online Games

Links

Numenera Session 3 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 02:47:00 -0500

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Lightning Rods, New D&D Starter Set, Tome of Titans 2, Home Field Advantage

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 04:47:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:37 Lightning Rods - Leaning In on Powerful Character Abilities
00:10:19 New D&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
00:15:32 Kickstarter Spotlight: Epic Legacy - Tome of Titans 2
00:26:21 Product Spotlight: Home Field Advantage - Lair Actions for Most D&D Monsters
00:37:16 Alphastream on Spellcasting Monsters
00:51:40 Patreon Question: Using GM Intrusions from Numenera in 5e
00:55:24 Patreon Question: Setting Up Gamestore Games for New Players
00:57:13 Patreon Question: Faster Leveling in Witchlight
01:00:16 Patreon Question: Overwhelmed with Lore
01:03:02 Patreon Question: Lazy DM Tips for Drawing Maps

Links

Numenera Session 2 – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 03:12:00 -0500

Mike prepares to run his next session of his Numenera campaign!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Elements of Inspiration Decks, Dragonflight, City of Arches

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 04:19:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Elements of Inspiration Decks
05:53 Product Spotlight: Dragonflight by 2C Gaming
27:09 Sly Flourish Patreon Product: The City of Arches Guidebook
38:55 Patreon Question: Running Sandbox Games with the Eight Steps
42:47 Patreon Question: Going Too Far with End-of-Campaign Montages
44:49 Patreon Question: Underused Nugget from the Eight Steps?
46:28 Patreon Question: Good Aspects of 4e
49:10 Patreon Question: Organizing Useful Info from RPG PDFs
52:27 Patreon Question: Running Labyrinths in D&D
55:22 Patreon Question: Preparing Upward and Downward Beats
59:24 Patreon Question: Preparing Options after a Cliffhanger Battle

Links

Lazy D&D Prep: Wild Beyond the Witchlight Chapter 1 Tips and Chapter 2 Prep

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 03:56:00 -0500

Mike offers tips and discussion for chapter 1 of Wild Beyond the Witchlight and prepares to run chapter 2!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
01:20 Top Three Tips for running Chapter 1 of Wild Beyond the Witchlight
11:25 Other Tips for Running Wild Beyond the Witchlight
14:30 What Did I Do in Chapter 1 in My Game?
23:36 Adding Dreadful Incursions - Not Good for Every Witchlight Campaign
28:41 Thoughts about Chapter 2
35:13 Prepping my Next Session in Chapter 2
48:16 Building a Dreadful Incursion
58:38 Finishing Up our Session Prep

Links

Numenera Session 1– Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 03:36:00 -0500

Mike prepares to run his session zero of his first Numenera campaign!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: New WOTC President, Lazy DM’s Companion PDF for Sale, Tal’Dorei Reborn

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 03:35:00 -0500

WOTC's new president, Lazy DM's Companion PDF for sale, Tal'Dorei Reborn product spotlight, more on Monsters of the Multiverse monster difficulty, and February Patreon Q&A in this week's Lazy D&D Talk Show!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:35 New President of Wizards of the Coast and the Unpredictability of the Future of D&D
07:20 Lazy DM's Companion PDF Now for General Sale!
08:36 Tal'Dorei Reborn Product Spotlight
25:17 Videos and Articles about Monster Difficulty in Monsters of the Multiverse
37:57 Patreon Question: Running with One Remote Player and Three Physical Players
41:55 Patreon Question: Running a Predator-style Adventure that Doesn't Suck
45:55 Patreon Question: Any Further Tips on Campaign Development? Not really!
47:51 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Use More Character Features
50:31 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Understand Old-School Style Adventures in 5e
53:29 Patreon Question: Building Legacy Weapons that Scale Up in Power

Links

Lazy GM Prep: Blades in the Dark Campaign Retrospective

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 03:23:00 -0500

Mike discusses his Blades in the Dark finale and thoughts about the game.

Numenera Session Zero – Lazy GM Prep

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 04:32:00 -0500

Mike prepares to run his session zero of his first Numenera campaign!

January 2022 Patreon Q&A

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 04:24:00 -0500

Mike goes through the final 33 Patreon questions of January 2022!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Intro
00:01:01 Cliche Bad Guy Expositions
00:02:49 Managing Treasure Distribution
00:05:08 Describing Three of Five Keys In Fiction
00:07:30 Building Quick Monsters from Scratch
00:09:39 Incorporating Character Backstories - Not for Everyone
00:13:46 Lazy Tips for Character Retreats
00:17:41 Sly Flourish DM Screen?
00:21:05 Creating Interesting Combat Encounters
00:25:12 Adding New Characters to Descent into Avernus
00:27:06 Making a CR 3 Vampire
00:28:56 More Sly Flourish Streamed D&D Games? Nope, Sorry.
00:30:29 Running One-Hour D&D Games
00:33:33 Tracking Factions in Notion
00:35:26 One-Page Campaign Guide for Homebrew Worlds
00:38:49 Setup for Running Games Online
00:41:08 Experience with Devesting Critical Hits
00:42:05 Using Extra Encounters for WOTC Hardcover Campaigns
00:43:33 Fog of War for Tabletop Maps
00:46:01 Secrets and Clues for West Marches Games
00:48:16 Managing Monsters with Debilitating Fun-Stealing Effects
00:51:04 OGL Good for Smaller Publishers? Not sure.
00:52:57 Running Grendleroot in Avernus
00:54:10 Integrating Monuments
00:55:50 Running Forgotten Realms for Knowledgable Players
00:58:05 Running Townbuilding Scenarios
00:59:44 Revealing Pointcrawls to Players
01:01:59 Playing in an 11-year-old's D&D Game
01:03:01 Running Grendleroot to 20th Level
01:04:31 Converting Settings to Other Systems and Running Fate
01:07:12 Speeding Up Combat
01:09:10 High-Level Relics Too Powerful? Nope!
01:11:03 Getting Players to Roleplay With Each Other
01:12:26 Revealing Numenera to Unknowing Characters

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show – The Importance of D&D, Tome of Beasts 3, Level Up 5e Monstrous Menagerie

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 03:35:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:29 My friend Bryan and the Importance of D&D
08:07 Quick Thoughts on Blades in the Dark
09:23 Further Thoughts on D&D Beyond and Monsters of the Multiverse
12:28 Kickstarter Spotlight: Tome of Beasts 3 by Kobold Press (Sponsored)
17:04 Product Spotlight: Level Up 5e Monstrous Menagerie
42:58 Patreon Q&A
43:23 Patreon Question: 5e's Time Sinks
48:22 Patreon Question: Do Monster Dials Prevent Character Death?
50:27 Patreon Question: Digital 3rd Party Products Outside of PDFs?
53:09 Patreon Question: Tips for Monster Morale
55:18 Patreon Question: 4e Modules of Note for 5e Conversion?
56:59 Patreon Question: Secrets, Clues, and Discoveries for Numenera

Links

Lazy GM Prep: Blades in the Dark Session 4

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:48:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Blades in the Dark game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show – Lazy DM’s Companion Delivered, Monsters of the Multiverse release and stat block thoughts, Patreon Questions

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 04:45:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:38 Lazy DM's Companion PDF Delivered!
09:29 Monsters of the Multiverse on D&D Beyond on May 17th
13:25 MotM Not Updating Previous Content on D&D Beyond
23:26 A Look at Monsters of the Multiverse Stat Blocks
47:56 Patreon Question: Transitions Between Scenes and Encounters
50:47 Patreon Question: Running "World Without Heroes" Campaign
53:35 Patreon: Using Callbacks
56:08 Patreon Question: Problems and Benefits of D&D Canon
59:36 Patreon Question: Bite-sized Lore and Inspiration

Links

Wild Beyond the Witchlight Session One Retrospective

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:12:00 -0500

Mike talks about his first full session of Wild Beyond the Witchlight.

Contents

00:00 Show Start
02:10 Seven D&D Tips from Last Night's Game
12:31 The Theme of Witchlight and the Dreadful Incursions
16:42 The Characters in my Witchlight Campaign
21:22 First Witchlight Session Retrospective
45:11 Prep for my Next Session
59:49 Listing the Cool Dreadful Domains for Dreadful Incursions

Links

Lazy GM Prep: Blades in the Dark Session 3

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 04:44:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his Blades in the Dark game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Final Lazy DM Companion Art, Witchlight thoughts, D&D is not WoW

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 04:43:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D! Sorry about the plosives in the recording, I was speaking too much into the mic (no need to comment =))

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:41 Lazy DMs Companion Update - All is Great!
05:02 Thoughts about Wild Beyond the Witchlight Sesson Zero
15:42 More on D&D Not Being Like World of Warcraft
33:05 Patreon Questions
33:28 Patreon Question: Revisiting Old Eliminated Prep Areas
36:04 Patreon Question: Preparing Multiple Sessions in Advance
38:35 Patreon Question: Handling Unexpected Character Deaths
41:25 Patreon Question: Publishing Homebrew Campaigns
45:14 Patreon Question: Favorite and Least Favorite Parts of 5e Seven Years In
51:07 Patreon Question: Evaluating Published Adventures
55:30 Patreon Question: DCs Higher than 30 and Choosing DCs based on the Characters

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show – Friday Night Mic Check

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:30:02 -0500

Mike's special mic-check episode of the Lazy D&D Talk show. Just general chatter about lots of random stuff.

Contents

00:00:00 Show Intro
00:01:16 What Did I Do Today?
00:03:33 Cobra Kai
00:05:15 Reddit on Character Race Changes
00:13:12 Checking my Mic
00:16:58 Predictions on the Next D&D
00:18:47 Jim Collins's "Good to Great" and Wizards of the Coast
00:28:07 Lots of Monster Books Coming
00:28:50 Dangerous Destinations by Nord Games
00:32:32 Potential Numenera Campaign Adventures
00:45:17 Alphastream's New Patreon
00:49:23 My Dream: An RPG Industry Talk Show
00:52:45 Mike's Next Thing... (Join Patreon to find out!)
00:55:35 Latest Lazy DM's Companion Preview
01:06:54 How do you Grow Your Patreon

Links

Lazy GM Prep: Blades in the Dark Session 2

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:07:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his full Blades in the Dark game.

Wild Beyond the Witchlight Session Zero Prep

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:54:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his session zero of Wizards of the Coast hardcover adventure Wild Beyond the Witchlight! Video contents

00:00 Show Intro
01:09 How I feel about Wild Beyond the Witchlight
07:41 Running a Session Zero
12:15 Witchlight Campaign One-Pager
39:26 Reading and Absorbing Wild Beyond the Witchlight
44:04 Adding Dreadful Incursions for Combat Options in Witchlight
57:13 Prepping the First Session at the Witchlight Carnival

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Hasbro CEO, Limitless Heroics, Bible Adventure, Mage Forge, What Crooked Roots

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:22:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
01:24 WOTC CEO Chris Cocks Promoted to Hasbro CEO
10:03 Kickstarter Spotlight: Limitless Heroics
14:53 Kickstarter Spotlight: Adventurer's Guide to the Bible
18:47 Kickstarter Spotlight: Nerdarchy's Mage Forge
20:33 Kickstarter Preview Spotlight: Tome of Beasts 3 by Kobold Press
22:31 Product Spotlight: What Crooked Roots
28:04 4e Skill Challenges vs. Blades Progress Clocks
34:52 Patreon Questions
35:27 Patreon Question: Keeping High Levels Challenging
41:00 Patreon Question: Sly Flourish Books on Roll 20?
44:44 Patreon Question: When Do You Give Out the One-Page Campaign Guide?
46:19 Patreon Question: Pre- and Post-Game Rituals
48:34 Patreon Question: Running Complicated Political Intrigue
51:12 This Isn't Gospel. I'm Just Sharing My Experiences
52:05 Patreon Question: Good 5-Page Product Types?
56:11 Patreon Question: Running RPGs for Kids?
57:55 Patreon Question: Good Downward Beats from Hamlet's Hit Points
59:25 Patreon Question: Scaling D&D for Three Characters

Links

Blades in the Dark Prep – Session 1

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 03:28:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his first full Blades in the Dark game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Notable 3rd Party D&D Products of 2021, Final 2021 Patreon Questions

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 05:29:00 -0500

Notable 3rd party D&D products of 2021 and Patreon Questions!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:12 Mastering Dungeons for D&D News
01:14 Lazy DM Companion Art Previews
04:44 Notable 5e Third-Party Products in 2021
06:02 Arcadia by MCDM
08:54 The Book of Fiends by Robert Schwalb and Green Ronin
10:11 Complete Kobold's Guide to Monsters by Kobold Press
11:43 Iskandar by MT Black
12:32 Level Up Advanced 5e by EnWorld Publishing
14:08 Ptolus 5e by Monte Cook Games
16:12 Scarlet Citadel by Kobold Press
18:16 Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands by Raging Swan Press
19:22 Southlands by Kobold Press
20:19 Vault of Magic by Kobold Press
21:49 Where the Machines Wait by Monte Cook Games
24:56 Patreon Questions
25:22 Patreon Question: Epic and Meaningful Deaths
28:58 Patreon Question: Handling Petrification and Flight
30:40 Chamber of Secrets - Worst Harry Potter Movie
33:19 Patreon Question: Rolling Secret Rolls for Characters
35:29 Patreon Question: Organizing Digital Products
40:18 Patreon Question: Tying Hooks to Characters in Published Adventures
42:55 Patreon Question: Separating Treasure, Traps, and Locations in Prep
43:46 Patreon Question: Thoughts on 1st Level Adventures
45:37 Patreon Question: Revealing Pointcrawl Maps to Players
49:46 Patreon Question: Tying Characters to Linear Adventures
51:31 Patreon Question: Gaslighting Players and the False Hydra
55:05 Patreon Question: Tracking In-World Time
57:24 Patreon Question: Go-To Reskinnable Monsters
59:31 Patreon Question: Preparing GM Intrusions with Cypher System

Links

Lazy GM Prep: Blades in the Dark Session Zero Prep

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:16:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his session zero of Blades in the Dark!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Lighting Rods, Player Campaign Survey, 1,100 Awesome D&D Pages, Patreon Q&A

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 05:15:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

00:00 Show Intro
00:23 DM Tip: Lightning Rods in Boss Fights
09:04 Player Campaign Survey Results
17:16 1,100 Pages of Awesome 5e Third-Party Books in One Day
27:21 Patreon Questions
28:18 Patreon Question: What Lazy DM Material Do I No Longer Agree With?
34:14 Patreon Question: Help Struggling Players Explore
39:26 Patreon Question: Organizing Campaigns in Notion, OneNote, and Other Tools
45:35 Patreon Question: Character Options in One-Page Campaign Guides
48:41 Patreon Question: Game Intro Rituals
51:01 Patreon Question: Concluding a Campaign with Limited Time Left
52:47 Patreon Question: Point Crawls with Geographic Maps

Links

Frostmaiden Retrospective

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 05:25:00 -0500

After finishing his Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign, Mike offers his thoughts and advice for the adventure and describes the epic conclusion to his campaign.

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
01:14 Experiences and Tips for Running Rime of the Frostmaiden
02:07 Be ready to modify a lot of this adventure
04:01 Cut quests liberally from chapter 1. It's far too big.
05:46 Add quests, adventure paths, and keys to tie chapter 2 to the rest of the adventure
07:38 Modify the timing of the Chardalyn dragon's attack to suit your story
09:47 Add trials of Auril based on the characters' backgrounds and drives
11:23 Tie Grimskalle and Ythryn together as requirements to end the Endless Night
13:03 The Conclusion to Mike's Frostmaiden Campaign
18:49 The Final Battle - Waves of Nasty Monsters and Lightning Rods!
28:21 The Final Sacrifice
32:03 One Year Later...
41:06 The End of my 18th campaign in seven years
44:45 Preview of the Witchlight campaign: Dreadful Incursions!

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 41: The Sepulcher of Thruun

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 20:25:23 -0500

Mike prepares for his final session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: D&D Errata, Kickstarter and Blockchain, DDB Combat Tracker, Dungeoncraft Videos, Index Card RPG, Patreon Questions

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 05:52:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:45 Lazy DM's Companion Art and Maps Preview
03:53 D&D Errata and Feedback
17:39 Kickstarter and Blockchain - Ugh.
25:48 D&D Beyond Combat Tracker Automatically Includes Character Initiative!
31:45 Dungeon Craft Reviews Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
33:45 RPG Spotlight on Index Card RPG
40:48 Patreon Questions
41:07 Patreon Question: Filling Empty Rooms
46:05 Patreon Question: Homebrewing Rest Mechanics
49:28 Patreon Question: One-line 5e Monster Stat Blocks?
51:44 Patreon Question: What's In the Lazy Player's Guide?
53:37 Patreon Question: Adding Fate-style Aspects to D&D Games
56:12 Patreon Question: Advice for Adventurer's League DMs?

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 40: Ythryn Part 4

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:59:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

How to ”Make It” in the D&D and RPG Industry

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Mike offers some thoughts and shares some experiences on the topic of what it takes to "make it" in the D&D and RPG industry. No magic bullets here but hopefully some useful thoughts on the topic.

Contents

00:01:03 What does "Making It" Mean to You?
00:04:30 Advice is Bullshit
00:06:28 The Duality of Optimism and Pragmatism
00:09:46 Practical Advice (oops)
00:13:07 Use Lots of Platforms
00:14:38 The Marketing Funnel
00:21:33 The Value of Email Newsletters
00:28:09 Getting Attention - Go Wide
00:28:42 What About Podcasting?
00:32:17 What About Conventions?
00:33:59 Consistency + Visibility. Both Are Important.
00:38:13 40% Find Me Through YouTube
00:43:17 What Products Should One Make?
00:54:37 RPG Writer's Workshop
00:56:22 Where Do You Sell Your Stuff?
01:08:37 Final Thoughts (NOT ADVICE!)

Links

Strixhaven Spotlight

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 04:17:00 -0500

Mike does a spotlight look at the new Wizards of the Coast hardcover D&D sourcebook and adventure, Strixhaven, a Curriculum of Chaos.

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
02:16 Digital vs. Physical. Why not both?
04:08 A Different Kind of Sourcebook
05:57 Magic University
07:15 Three Facts about Strixhaven
17:39 A Place You Want to Go
26:42 Character Options
44:06 School is in Session
52:31 Mike Hates the D4. Worst Die Ever.
56:20 Let's Look at Monsters

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show: High CR Monster Damage, Southlands Spotlight, Patreon Questions

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 04:01:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D! Open up these notes for video contents and links.

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
01:33 Lazy DM's Companion Update
04:09 Tips for High CR Monster Damage
13:10 Product Spotlight: Southlands by Kobold Press
37:59 DM Tip: Don't Punish Characters Taking Initiative
42:47 Patreon Questions
43:16 Patreon Question: Restarting an Old Campaign
45:42 Patreon Question: Transitioning a Game to a New DM
48:02 Patreon Question: Unconnected Fronts
51:31 Patreon Question: What's the Problem with Twilight and Peace Clerics?
59:16 Patreon Question: Breaking Up with a Player or Game

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 39: Ythryn Part 3

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 06:22:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Companion Update, Fudging HP Polls, Silvery Barbs, Blades in the Dark, Q&A

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 05:21:00 -0500

Lazy DM Companion update, Polls on Fudging HP, Silvery Barbs and Opting-In for Non-Core books, Blades in the Dark, and Patreon Questions!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:39 Lazy DM's Companion Update
07:55 Fudging Hit Point Polls for DMs and Players
11:06 Silvery Barbs and Opting-In for Non-Core Books
23:16 Blades in the Dark Spotlight
38:32 December Patreon Questions
39:08 Patreon Question: Too Much Hoarding of Physical Books?
42:13 Patreon Question: Options for Zombie Characters?
44:47 Patreon Question: Procedures for Dungeon Crawls
47:49 Patreon Question: Balancing the Campaign Theme and Six Truths in Spiral Campaign Development
51:43 Patreon Question: High Charisma "Face" Characters Stealing the Show in RP Scenes

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Companion Update, After-School RPG Grants, D&D Beyond Usage, Patreon Q&A

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 05:17:00 -0500

Mike chats about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:00 Show Intro
00:01:12 Lazy DM Companion Update
00:03:59 The Sly Flourish After-School RPG Grant
00:06:22 D&D Beyond Usage Poll
00:11:45 Patreon Q&A
00:12:16 Patreon Question: Tuning Encounters Around Your Group
00:19:30 Patreon Question: Noir-Style Adventures in Tier 2+
00:24:00 Patreon Question: Running Fun High-Level (Level 16+) Campaigns
00:30:36 Patreon Question: More Stuff for Martial Characters
00:34:11 Patreon Question: Players Hoarding Relics and Magic Items
00:38:34 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Use High Level Spells
00:39:54 Patreon Question: Balancing Custom Monsters
00:45:26 Patreon Question: Completely Improvising a Session
00:49:02 Patreon Question: Making Use of Tool Proficiencies
00:52:55 Patreon Question: Avoiding Plot-Armor for Character-Focused Plots
00:55:45 Patreon Question: Rewarding Magic Items While Avoiding Overpowering Characters
01:01:53 Patreon Question: Incorporating Character Secrets
01:05:50 Chat Question: Magic Item Identification
01:06:40 Chat Question: Converting Older Adventures
01:07:09 Chat Question: Fistful of Copper
01:07:43 Chat Question: Creating Rivals
01:08:53 Chat Question: Ideal Endings
01:11:38 Chat Question: Recommended Books, TV Shows, Movies, and Games?
01:13:39 Chat Question: Grendleroot with Small Parties
01:14:00 Show Ending

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 38: Ythryn Part 2

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 04:40:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: LDMC Update, Mastering Dungeons on Fizban‘s, Improvising Monster Stats, Patreon Questions

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 04:40:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

01:02 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter Update
02:30 Mastering Dungeons on Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
08:14 Improvising Monsters With Stat Tables
18:16 Using Different Monster Books for Different Areas
19:52 Sharing Experiences - Not Offering Advice
23:26 Patreon Questions
23:42 Patreon Question: The Non-Core Books with the Biggest Impact on D&D
27:44 Patreon Question: Running Games at a Game Store
31:48 Patreon Question: Using Old School Essentials to Teach D&D?
36:17 Patreon Question: Challenging both Optimized and Non-Optimized Characters
41:52 Patreon Question: Guidelines for Alternative Systems
45:02 Patreon Question: Thinking About Villains Early On
47:17 Patreon Questions: Managing PC Home Bases
48:38 Patreon Question: Managing Character Creation for New Players
51:26 Patreon Question: Is D&D Become Less Flexible? No.

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 37: Ythryn Part 1

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:58:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Patreon Update and Q&A, Obsidian for DM Prep, Expedition to Mysterious Peaks, cy_borg, Mork Borg Feretory

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:57:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:34 Patreon Update: Sly Flourish's Uncovered Secrets Volume 1 & 2
02:59 Lazy DM Companion Update
03:55 DM Prep with Obsidian.md
13:19 Kickstarter: Expedition to the Mysterious Peaks
15:16 Kickstarter: cy_borg
20:05 Product Spotlight: Mork Borg Feretory
27:18 DM Tip: Beefing Up 5e Vampires
31:05 Using Fizban's Treasury of Dragons in Play
34:14 Patreon Question: Setting the Mood
39:10 Patreon Question: Planning Upward and Downward Beats
42:42 Patreon Question: Has Character Death Become Taboo?
50:57 Patreon Question: Satisfying Conclusions for Weak Villains

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 36: Caves of Hunger Part 3

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:53:00 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Fizban‘s Treasury of Dragons, Vault of Magic, Planegea, Abraxis, 2CG Rewards and Rarities, Dwarven Forge Reliquaries

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 05:53:00 -0500

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00:44 Preorder Page for the Lazy DM's Companion
00:03:21 Thoughts on Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
00:12:43 WOTC's Problem with High CR Damage
00:20:45 Kickstarter: Planegea by Atlast Games
00:23:05 Kickstarter: Skyraiders of Abraxis by Laura and Tracy Hickman
00:25:06 Kickstarter: Rewards and Rarities by 2C Gaming
00:27:13 Kickstarter: Reliquaries by Dwarven Forge
00:32:04 Transitioning to 70% Online Play
00:35:39 Spotlight: Vault of Magic by Kobold Press
00:44:19 Patreon Questions and Answers
00:45:14 Patreon Question: Transitioning to Published Adventures
00:47:46 Patreon Question: Worrying about Subverting Expectations
00:50:37 Patreon Question: Character Deaths and New Characters
00:53:21 Patreon Question: Keeping Track of Characters' Knowledge
00:55:02 Patreon Question: Handling NPC to NPC Conversations
00:56:34 Patreon Question: Adding Details to Fantastic Locations

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 35: Caves of Hunger Part 2

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 05:39:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show - Fizban‘s, Amazing Encounters, Potbellied Guide to Villains and Lairs, Planebreaker, Ebon Tides, Patreon Q&A

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 05:39:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:01:01 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter
00:02:14 Thoughts on Ravenloft Halloween One-Shot
00:13:32 Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
00:21:50 Kickstarter: Amazing Encounters and Places
00:24:29 Kickstarter: Potbellied Kobold's Guide to Villains and Lairs
00:25:33 Kickstarter: Planebreaker
00:28:24 Numenera Humble Bundle
00:30:02 Kickstarter: Book of Ebon Tides
00:31:02 Building RPG Companies Around Kickstarter
00:32:43 Patreon Question: Best Encounters for 1st Session
00:36:54 Patreon Question: Ideal Sidekicks for One-on-One Games
00:38:46 Patreon Question: Running Natural Disasters as Villains
00:41:57 Patreon Question: Ideal Facts for the "Six Truths" when Campaign Building
00:43:38 Patreon Question: Lazy Prep for Dungeons
00:46:42 Patreon Question: Process for Building Boss Monsters
00:50:58 Patreon Question: Tell Players about Monster Immunities and Legendary Resistances
00:54:02 Patreon Question: Lazy Prep for Marathon Sessions
00:56:22 Patreon Question: Ideal Number of Sessions for Milestone Leveling
00:57:24 Patreon Question: Keeping the Tension in Roleplay Scenes
00:58:26 Patreon Question: Using Lazy DM Steps for Other RPGs
01:00:20 Patreon Question: Failing Forward on a TPK?

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 34: Caves of Hunger

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 05:49:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: LDMC Kickstarter, Critical Role, Ultimate Gaming Room, LevelUp 5e, Serpent Sea

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 05:47:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:39 Artwork from the Lazy DM's Companion
03:22 Mike on D&D Beyond Talking Fizbans
04:21 Call from the Netherdeep Announced
06:23 Critical Role Season 3
08:10 Critical Role's Gaming Room
10:03 How Much Better Would Your Game Be with a Million Dollar Gaming Room?
20:15 Mastering Dungeons
20:59 WOTC's D&D Growth Over Time
25:01 Paizo's Union
27:23 Level Up: Advanced 5e Kickstarter
29:42 Raiders of the Serpent Sea Kickstarter
31:04 Kickstarters are the Most Interesting Growth Areas of RPGs
35:36 Patreon Questions!
36:11 Patreon Question: Running Lighthearted Campaigns
41:38 Which Third Party Products to Trust?
48:24 Running Chases in D&D
55:43 Avenues for Indy RPG Creation - Newsletters!!

Links

Let‘s Make an Adventure with the Lazy DM‘s Companion Part 2

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 07:19:24 -0400

Mike uses material from the Lazy DM's Companion to continue his preparation for a single-session D&D game!

Back the Kickstarter!

Frostmaiden Prep Session 33: Chardalyn Dragon Aftermath

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 06:41:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Fizban‘s, First World, New Monster Design,13th Age Spotlight

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 05:41:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:29 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter
03:14 Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
05:38 The dragons in the First World
10:48 Aspect of Tiamat, Great Wyrm stat blocks, and spellcasting dragons
18:32 Monster Design Guidelines from WOTC
23:45 13th Age Spotlight
43:30 Patreon Question: Tracking what happened
46:44 Patreon Question: Putting on pressure in flexible campaigns
51:26 Patreon Question: The 8 steps in a megadungeon
54:29 Patreon Question: Putting puzzles into your game

Links

Frostmaiden Prep Session 32: The Chardalyn Dragon

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 06:05:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Let‘s Make an Adventure with the Lazy DM‘s Companion

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 06:24:00 -0400

Mike uses material from the Lazy DM's Companion to build an adventure!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: New D&D Core Book Thoughts, Monster Design, the Many D&D Communities, Fudging Hit Points

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 05:48:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:40 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter
03:24 Mastering Dungeons Live on Twitch
05:12 More New D&D Core Book Thoughts
05:41 This is Different from Other D&D Revisions
09:48 Thoughts on New Monster Design
11:57 Thoughts on the Different D&D Communities
22:28 On Fudging Hit Points
30:43 Patreon Questions
31:54 How do you handle the number of monsters with the lazy benchmark?
38:21 How do you keep a 20th level party going?
41:38 Making Your Own Encounter Tables
45:15 Better Support for Tier 3 and 4?
56:34 Can't Remember Spell Details? That's ok!

Links

Lazy DM‘s Companion Kickstarter 2nd Q&A

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 08:56:38 -0400

Mike goes through more questions for the Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter!

Links

Back the Kickstarter

Contents

00:00 Start - About the Kickstarter
02:09 Any modifications based on upcoming D&D changes? No.
04:05 Will the Companion be useful for non-D&D games? Yes!
05:05 Can you show the book in action? Yes! Next time.
06:33 Will the spiral-bound Workbook be available post-Kickstarter? Yes!
07:36 Really? No Stretch goals? Yep, no stretch goals.
09:04 Will the PDFs come through DriveThruRPG? Yes!
09:22 Will we get the PDFs of existing books right away? Yes!
10:00 Will the digital versions include existing ePubs? Yes!
10:44 Can we get the physical versions of the "Fantastic" book add-ons? Not through the Kickstarter.
11:52 Is the Companion "Done"? No. First draft is done.
13:02 Can we see what the books will look like? Not yet.
13:30 Can we add audiobooks as add-ons? Unfortunately, no.
15:00 Can I print maps for my own private use? Yes.
15:17 Can I give away extra digital copies? Yes.
16:02 Can we get the digital art as a download? Yes.
17:41 Will these questions get added to the FAQ? Yes.
18:09 Will there be a retailer pledge? No, but...
19:16 Will the printed books be available on Amazon? Yes, eventually.
20:19 Will Return look like Babar in hardcover? No.
21:17 Going to any conventions this year? No.
23:05 How different are the printed books from PoD? Nicer!
25:03 Experiences with Off-set Printing? Too early to say.
29:12 Plans for different languages? Not at the moment.
31:30 How do you plan to cope with the next 21 days? It's great!
35:48 A look at the TOC and design of the Companion
37:03 The Lands of the Fey page and design
42:51 Turning a 1d20 list into a 1d400 list
45:23 Useful guidelines and generators each in a single page
48:00 Not re-creating existing guidelines
49:36 Monster templates
57:57 Can I mix and match physical and PDF orders? Yes!

Frostmaiden Session 31: Grimskalle and the Tests of the Frostmaiden

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 06:18:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Recovering from a Bad D&D Game

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 06:26:00 -0400

Mike offers advice for recovering from a bad D&D game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Companion Kickstarter, New D&D Core Books, Multiverse Monsters, We Control D&D, Digital Armageddon

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 06:20:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
01:09 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter
05:23 New D&D Core Books coming in 2024
21:04 Mordenkainen's Guide to the Monsters of the Multiverse
31:41 WOTC Doesn't Control D&D – We do
40:06 The Potential D&D Digital Armageddon
51:08 Patreon Question: Oscar M. Connecting Characters in an Ongoing Campaign
54:49 Patreon Question: Tim S. Spiral Campaigns in Cities
57:30 Patreon Question: Pierce S on Countdown Clocks in D&D

Links

Frostmaiden Session 30: Grimskalle Fortress

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 15:03:06 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy DM‘s Companion Twitch Q&A #1

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:54:08 -0400

Mike talks all about the Lazy DMs Companion and takes questions from Twitch. Join the Kickstarter here!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/the-lazy-dms-companion?ref=9hlew2

Show Contents

00:00 Intro
2:27 Will there be a hardcover version of the Handbook?
3:20 How come no stretch goals?
6:25 Is the hardcover of Return different?
8:56 Have you thought about combining the three books into one?
14:56 Who are the artists behind this great art?
16:25 How useful do you expect it to be for other systems and editions?
19:40 Will the shipping cost change?
20:20 Is the book future proof?
27:40 Will there be any changes to the Lazy Combat Encounter Guide?
31:46 What do you know about 6e?
32:37 Is there something you wanted in the book that didn't make it?
36:16 Have I started my next book? NO!
37:07 Ever considered WOTC-hardcover-focused guides and products?
39:20 Does the Lazy DM's Companion include downtime activities? No.
40:22 Will the book be available on Amazon? Yes. Mid to late next year after backers get theirs.
41:34 Do you have an "Appendix N" of inspirational resources? Yes!!
44:13 Have you considered adding indexes to your books? No, but I will now!
46:02 When do you get your stuff?
49:15 How is your day going?
52:52 Are you planning any appearances on YT/Twitch channels?
53:31 Would you ever consider streaming a one-shot if the campaign did crazy numbers?
54:59 Would you rather fight one horse-sized kobold or a hundred kobold-sized horses?
55:15 What is your favourite Monte Cook supplement or product?
55:47 How much for you to hand deliver the books?
56:22 Any plans on an audiobook version?
58:11 Have you thought of tabs for quick reference?
58:54 Will their be epub versions of Return and Ruins of Grendleroot in it?
59:36 What type of content is in the Lazy DM's Companion?

Customizing Published D&D Adventures

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 06:21:00 -0400

Mike talks about ways to customize your published D&D adventures.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Companion Kickstarter, Planebreaker, Witchlight, D&D Celebration, Dungeoncraft Adventurers

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 06:35:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:24 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter Coming Soon!
02:34 Planebreaker Kickstarter
04:43 Dwarven Forge Reliquaries Kickstarter
08:02 Wild Beyond the Witchlight Thoughts
13:11 D&D Celebration
15:29 DM's Guild Dungeoncraft Adventures
20:03 DM's Panel on Immersion
24:51 New Adventurer's League Rules (They're Awesome)
28:41 Sharon C. Are Hybrid Conventions Here to Stay? (Yes!)
35:23 Tracking villains in published adventures
39:18 Questions about the Kickstarter
43:16 Running Wilderness Exploration
46:49 Non-combat Strong Starts for Adventures
50:22 Tips for Running NPCs and Giving Away Secrets

Links

Frostmaiden Session 29:Tomb of the Frost Giants

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Spiral Campaign Development

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about how to build a campaign from the characters outwards.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Witchlight Marketing, World Simulation, Pacing, Shadow of the Demon Lord

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:57:06 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:22 Lazy DM Companion Kickstarter Notification Signup!
03:14 Wild Beyond the Witchlight marketing in full force
06:29 World simulation vs scaling challenges
22:30 Pacing – potentially the main DM weakness
36:49 Shadow of the Demon Lord spotlight
53:11 Building NPCs for different situations
58:30 Building fronts in the middle of a campaign

Links

D&D’s Best Subsystem – The Ability Check

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike proposes using the ability check instead of more complicated subsystems.

Frostmaiden Session 28-2: Grimskalle Redux

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:03:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

D&D Random Encounters: Non-Focal, Previous, Upcoming, and Mashups

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about how we can help players make informed decisions in D&D.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Lazy DMs Companion Kickstarter, AL rule changes, Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
01:03 Lazy DM's Companion Kickstarter Coming 28 September!
05:26 New Adventures League Rules! Yay!
15:17 Alignments on Monsters are back
20:51 WOTC published monsters are often took weak and its not getting better
27:39 Interesting Third Party Products
30:56 Raging Swan's Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands
41:40 Lazy DM Prep and Running West Marches
46:28 Getting Games Back On Track
49:50 Can All the Characters Roll an Ability Check?

Links

Help D&D Players Make Decisions

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about how we can help players make informed decisions in D&D.

Frostmaiden Session 28: Grimskalle

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

What Would a Lazy Player‘s Guide Have In It?

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about good behaviors for players from a DM's perspective.

Lazy D&D Talk Show:Owlbear + Dwarven Forge, Numenera Review, After-game Regrets

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks all-things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:39 Dwarven Forge with Owlbear Rodeo
10:50 Why I Love Numenera and the Cypher System
42:19 Post-game Disappointment
47:39 Handling NPC to NPC Conversations
49:08 Handling the Totally Unexpected
52:01 Lore Continuity in Our Own Forgotten Realms

Links

The Case for Average Monster Damage

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike makes the case for keeping average monster damage as a tool in your DM's toolbox.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 27: Dark Duchess

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Improvising Legendary D&D Boss Monsters

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike describes how to quickly an easily build legendary boss monster for your D&D game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show – Return of Kobold Fight Club, Arbys Dice, Esper Genesis, Non-Focal Random Encounters, Patreon Questions

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:55 Kobold Fight Club Returns!
02:12 Esper Genesis Quick Look
14:27 Finally, Arby's Dice!
17:12 Alexandrian on Non-Focal Random Encounters
23:58 Taking Patreon Questions
25:53 Patreon - Sean H on Balanced vs. Situational encounters
36:46 Patreon - Raymond C on Deviating from Plotted Campaigns
44:11 Patreon - Eloy C on Rolling in the Open

Links

Thinking Through the Eyes of your NPCs

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about the value of thinking through the eyes of our NPCs in D&D.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 26: Dark Duchess

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Ten Uses for Index Cards in D&D

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike offers ten uses for index cards in your D&D game.

Contents

00:00 The Value of Index Cards
00:26 Index Cards for Initiative
00:53 Numbered Table Tents for Initiative
01:28 Quest Cards
02:01 Magic Items
02:26 Zone-based Combat
03:44 X Card
04:20 NPC Info for DMs or Players
04:34 Secret Notes to Players
04:50 Monster Customizations

Links

Lazy D&D Talk Show – Kobold Fight Club, Head Tools, Owlbear Rodeo Tokens, Call from the Deep, Hidden Costs of DM's Guild

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike chats about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Show Intro
00:32 The fall of Kobold Fight Club
06:54 The fallacy of the adventuring day
08:12 Don't become dependent on digital tools
13:50 On the Lazy Encounter Benchmark
18:33 Start with the story
24:58 Owlbear Rodeo, scenery, and new features
33:10 Call from the Deep Review
46:01 Hidden Costs of DM's Guild Publishing

Links

End Your D&D Session Before a Big Fight

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about the advantages and disadvantages of ending your D&D game right before a big battle.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 25: Black Cabin

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

"You Are Not Prepared for your Next D&D Game" – Battling the Resistance

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike talks about battling back the voice in our head that tells us we aren't ready to run our D&D game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: D&D Beyond Appearances, Tome of Heroes, Vorpal Board, Streaming Games, Frostmaiden Grievances

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike chats about all things D&D!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:29 YouTube Videos of D&D Beyond Appearances
10:24 Would I Still Do This if D&D Were 10% as Popular?
20:14 Kobold Press Tome of Heroes
23:18 Vorpal Board for Broadcasting Physical Tabletop RPGs Online
31:53 Thoughts on Streaming D&D Games
39:17 Frostmaiden Grievances and Accolades

Links

Realism Vs. Fun in our D&D Games

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses the balance between realism and fun in our D&D games.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 24: Black Cabin

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Reinforce Cooperative Character Motivations in D&D

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:02:00 -0400

Mike talks about the value of reinforcing a cooperative character motivation to smooth out inter-party conflicts in your D&D game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Appearances, Secret and Generator Previews, Scarlet Citadel, Tome of Beasts 2, Last Airbender

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike discusses the latest D&D news and tips for lazy dungeon masters!

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:31 Mike's Appearances
00:53 D&D Beyond Appearance
01:46 Mike with Matt Coleville and James Introcaso talking D&D and Arcadia 6
02:25 Why Am I Called Sly Flourish?
03:20 New Uncovered Secrets and Adventure Generators: Gods, Lost Kingdoms, Legendary Villains
22:13 Scarlet Citadel by Kobold Press
32:02 Tome of Beasts 2 by Kobold Press
33:59 Avatar Last Airbender Kickstarter
38:08 No More UA in D&D Beyond
43:46 My OK D&D game, Give Players Things to Do
51:20 13th Age and 5e

Links

Pondering Your D&D Game? Go for a Walk!

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike extols the virtues of taking a walk while pondering your D&D game.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 23

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Darkvision Isn't As Good As You Think

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:05:00 -0400

Feel like darkvision is overpowered? Mike talks about the combination of rules that makes darkvision not as good as many DMs think.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Companion Kickstarter, D&D Canon, Grim Accord, Christian Zuech, Elven Tower, Dungeoncraft

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike talks about the latest D&D news and topics. Click "SHOW MORE" for links and details.

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:18 Kickstarter Date for Lazy DM's Companion
04:06 Chris Perkins on Canon
09:59 Grim Accord in Arcadia 6
14:34 Chris Spivey on Independent RPG Struggles
22:42 Christian Zuech: Encounters in Barovia
30:29 Elven Tower
34:46 Patreon and Kickstarter For Most Interesting RPG Content
36:56 Dungeoncraft Videos
46:30 Paid DMing. I'm all for it!

Links

Wielding Knives in D&D – Using the Fiction Players Bring to the Table

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses the value of using "knives" as a DM in your D&D game. How do you wield the fiction that players bring to the table responsibly and effectively to let your stories expand ever outward.

Lazy D&D Talk Show - Tal'dorei sourcebook, MCDM news, Streaming Influence, Printable Heroes, Tabletop Audio

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses D&D news!

Podcast Contents

00:00 Intro
00:37 New Tal'Dorai sourcebook
07:32 My Evil Adventuring Group in Arcadia Issues 6!
10:04 MCDM's New Monster Manual
16:47 Details of Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
19:05 Crawford on Streaming's Influence on WOTC Production
32:51 Printable Heroes Patreon
41:41 Tabletop Audio Patreon
45:23 You Get to Decide What's Canon

Links

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 22

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Facilitating Decisions in D&D

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses the importance of understanding how to facilitate decisions in D&D.

Lazy D&D Talk Show - Witchlight, Fizban's Dragons, Strixhaven, Dread Metrol, Izkandar

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D! Click Show More for notes and links.

Table of Contents

00:00 Intro
02:13 Wild Beyond the Witchlight
04:16 Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
08:44 Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos
13:53 Running D&D In Person Again
18:39 Dread Metrol: Into the Mists by Keith Baker
34:18 The Dogs of War Adventure Generator with Dread Metrol
36:59 Iskandar City Sourcebook by MT Black
45:29 Miniatures, too expensive for new DMs?
54:14 Sad WOTC didn't make Planescape? Buy the Old One

Links

Running Small D&D Battles in the Theater of the Mind

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about the value of running small battles in the Theater of the Mind.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 21

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Handling Rests in D&D

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike offers options and tips for handling rests in D&D. Click "Show More" for notes and links.

Lazy D&D Talk Show. D&D and Magic the Gathering, Knife to Know You, Mork Borg, Downtime

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike chats about all things D&D!

00:00 Show Start
00:44 D&D and Magic the Gathering
08:07 Playing MtG again
16:37 Reviewing Patreons Next Week
18:54 Knife to Know You by Doryen Chin
24:25 Mork Borg
36:46 Downtime in D&D
48:07 Getting back to playing in person

Links

The Best Improvements to your D&D Game are Free

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:33:00 -0400

Mike talks about the best, and cheapest, ways to improve your D&D game. The best tools to improve your D&D game are free.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 20

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:22:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Using Stars and Wishes for feedback on your D&D Game

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Mike describes how to use Lu Quade's "Stars and Wishes" to get great feedback from your players on your D&D game.

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Ernie Gygax, DM Voicework, Empire of the Ghouls, Where the Machines Wait, D&D MtG

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 05:35:00 -0400

Mike talks about all things D&D!

00:00 Video Intro
00:13 TSR (3) and the Ernie Gygax Situation
05:46 Gender Identity Thoughts from an Old Cis White Dude
12:14 How Important is D&D Voicework Poll
16:41 Why I Review Third Party Products
18:27 Empire of the Ghouls by Kobold press
27:56 Where the Machines Wait
34:17 MtG D&D Adventures and Pregen Characters
38:05 Making Cheap D&D Tokens from MtG Cards
40:44 Rolling for Monster Horde Damage
46:37 Matt Colville making his own RPG? Level up 5e RPG
49:21 Dungeons of Drakkenheim

Links

Let's Make an Adventure! Keep of the Black Gate Part 2

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 06:29:00 -0400

Mike uses the Adventure Generators from the Sly Flourish Patreon to build an adventure from scratch for his Saturday D&D game. Part 2 of 2.

Types of D&D Secrets and How to Find Them

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 05:35:00 -0400

Mike offers a tip for thinking up secrets and clues by considering the types of secrets the characters may discover and how they might discover them.

Types of secrets

Character secrets
NPC secrets
Story secrets
Villainous secrets
Location secrets
Historical secrets
Theological secrets

Ways to discover them

Character background
NPCs (friendly or hostile)
Books, journals, notes, and scolls
Items
Frescos and mosaics
dreams and portents
sentient magic items

Links

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 19

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 09:22:07 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Player-Driven Monster Descriptions for D&D

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 05:35:00 -0400

Mike offers a tip to get players to think more about monsters in the story of your D&D game by asking them to define interesting physical characteristics of monsters.

Lazy D&D Talk Show - 27 June 2021

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Another episode of the Lazy D&D Talk show. Topics include how to steer damage away from the boss, the Mercer effect, yam-shaped adventures design, and reviews of Grymmworld and the Oath of the Frozen King.

Contents

00:00 Intro
00:36 Finding a D&D group
05:07 How did my Keep of the Black Gate game go?
07:05 Player tip: Always have a ranged attack
08:36 DM Tip: Redirect damage away from the boss
13:30 The Mercer Effect
24:21 Grymmworld by Grant Ellis and Ryan Servis
33:40 Oath of the Frozen King by Absolute Tabletop
40:32 Too many quests in chapter 1 of Frostmaiden
43:49 Yam-shaped adventure design

Links

Let's Make an Adventure! Keep of the Black Gate Part 1

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Mike uses the Adventure Generators from the Sly Flourish Patreon to build an adventure from scratch for his Saturday D&D game. Part 1 of 2.

Finding Maps for D&D

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:11:29 -0400

What makes a good D&D map and where can a lazy DM easily find them?

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 16

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 05:50:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 18

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 05:59:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Use Villainous Heralds in D&D

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about the value of heralds who announce villains far and wide.

Lazy D&D Talk Show - 20 June 2021

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike chats about all things D&D!

Show Contents

00:00 Intro
00:17 Tricks for the D&D Encounter Builder
12:35 Mork Borg
17:41 Old School Essentials
24:40 Runehammer Games's 5e Hardcore Mode
32:14 2C Gamings Total Party Kill Bestiary 2
37:42 Nord's Dreaded Accursed
40:19 Increasing the Deadly Encounter Benchmark at level 11+
46:09 Returning to our one-on-one D&D game

Links

Preparing for your D&D Game in 15 Minutes

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses how to prepare for your game in about 15 minutes.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 17

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Original YouTube Video
Notion Frostmaiden Campaign Notebook
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Join Sly Flourish's Patreon
Buy Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master

Two Tools for D&D Encounter Building

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike offers two tools for better D&D 5e encounter building.

Worldbuilding for Lazy Dungeon Masters: PAX Unplugged, December 2019

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

The lost recording of the Worldbuilding for the Lazy Dungeon Master panel at Pax Unplugged, December 2019, hosted by James Haeck with Makenzie De Armas, Mike Shea, Morrigan Robbins, and Renee Rhodes.

James Haeck
@jamesjhaeck

Makenzie De Armas
makenzielaneda

Mike Shea
@slyflourish

Morrigan Robbins
@MorriLoremother

Renee Rhodes
@raedeanner

Lazy D&D Talk Show - 13 June 2021

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike chats about D&D!

Show Contents

00:00 Show Start
00:52 Translations Pushing Back 6e Predictions
5:00 Reviews of Third Party Books
07:22 Arcana of the Ancients
12:07 Ptolus
15:07 Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands
18:04 Ironsworn
20:56 Adventures of the Potbellied Kobold'
23:51 Mike's Appendix N (what's yours??)
37:25 Mike's Take on Stress Effects
58:15 Player vs. Player and Player vs. DM Consent
1:10:20 Rant about Adventurer's League

Links

Be Nice to 1st Level Characters in D&D

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike talks about the importance of being nice to 1st level characters and offers three tips to make their lives a little easier.

Managing Time While Running Your D&D Games

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses the importance of managing time in your D&D game.

DM's Deep Dive: Paige Leitman at Winter Fantasy, February 2020

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:03:00 -0400

Recently recovered from the deepest depths of the ancient Sly Flourish libraries, I bring you my interview with Paige Leitman in which we discuss D&D Adventurer's League, our favorite conventions, and all sorts of fun topics.

Video Contents
00:00 We love Winter Fantasy! What We've enjoyed.
03:07 Who's Paige Leitman?
06:07 Paige's there new tips for current DMs
07:15 Use an X Card (see the link below)
08:44 Cater to your audience and ask them what they want
09:01 Read your published adventures
11:00 What's changed in 2 years? AL moving towards story.
16:56 How are the changes being accepted?
19:20 What people think of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
21:17 Other trends from the 5e Facebook: greater diversity and inclusion.
22:30 Interesting homebrew is popping up.
23:20 The impact of D&D Beyond
26:30 Navigating the curve between tactical and story
31:58 Play a different game

Lazy D&D Talk Show - 6 June 2021

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike chats about all things D&D including the new D&D book leaks and other stuff!

Video Contents

00:00 Show Start
03:15 New D&D Books Leaked
03:49 Wild Beyond the Witchlight
04:50 Curriculum of Chaos
05:50 How to Enjoy D&D + MtG Books More
12:51 The Problem Challenging Players
38:16 Critical Role and the 20th Level Complexity D&D Game

Links

Three Quest Models for D&D

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike offers three simple quest models you can keep in your toolkit when preparing your D&D games.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 15

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 18:11:14 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Lazy D&D Talk Show: Van Richten's Guide to Everything Review

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike does an in-depth review of Van Richten's Guide to Everything. In short, it's awesome.

Video Contents

00:00 Video start
00:58 I Highly Recommend This Book
03:09 Are "Ravenloft" and "Domains of Dread" the same thing? (Yes)
04:25 Great Player Guidance I Wish Was in the PHB
06:14 Lineages (they're awesome)
10:09 Building Domains of Dread (Meh)
14:27 Genres of Horror (I loved this section)
17:53 Domains of Dread (110+ pages of awesome)
24:47 Travelers in the Mist (didn't dig in too much)
30:04 Haunted Traps (What the hell is a haunt bonus?)
30:39 Survivors (0 level characters???)
34:47 The House of Lament Adventure (Awesome)
36:01 Monster Traits and What-Not
38:12 Monster Stat Blocks
46:49 Concluding thoughts

Secrets Serve You

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 15:24:11 -0400

Mike talks about the value in understanding that secrets and clues serve you.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 14

Sun, 30 May 2021 15:34:03 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Ranking WOTC's D&D Adventures

Fri, 28 May 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike discusses and ranks nearly all the hardcover WOTC-published D&D adventures.

Video Contents

00:00 Beginning
03:52 Lost Mine of Phandelver
06:17 Dragon of Icespire Peak
08:47 Curse of Strahd
12:10 Ghosts of Saltmarsh
16:05 Tomb of Annihilation
22:23 Storm King's Thunder
26:15 Tyranny of Dragons (Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat)
29:52 Waterdeep Dragon Heist
33:32 Out of the Abyss
36:07 Rime of the Frostmaiden
42:01 Princes of the Apocalypse
44:13 I've enjoyed ALL of these adventures
45:25 Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
48:04 Even rough adventures can be great fun

Amazon Associate Links for these adventures...

Run Simple Adventures

Wed, 26 May 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike talks about the value of running simple D&D adventures.

Use Published D&D Material

Wed, 26 May 2021 11:21:00 -0400

Mike argues for the value of published RPG material even when running our own homebrew adventures and campaigns.

Lazy D&D Chat - 23 May 2021

Mon, 24 May 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Mike chat's about D&D!

Video Contents

00:00 Intro
01:21 Scaling Adventures & Dials of Monster Difficulty
03:54 All the ways to subscribe to Sly Flourish!
06:01 Beefing up an ogre
11:10 "Roles" in 4e and 5e
13:05 Why Minions, Normal, Elite, and Solo roles don't work for 5e
17:32 Monsters Know What They're Doing is awesome
21:03 Initial thoughts on Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
42:59 Thoughts on 6e from a indie publisher's point of view

Links

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 13

Sun, 23 May 2021 18:25:08 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Run Easy D&D Battles

Tue, 18 May 2021 13:01:00 -0400

Mike discusses the value of running more easy battles in our D&D games to maintain the oscillation of upward and downward beats.

Lazy D&D Chat and Thoughts on Frostmaiden Chapter 2+

Sun, 16 May 2021 13:54:27 -0400

Mike chats about general D&D topics and ponders how to handle chapters 2 and beyond in Rime of the Frostmaiden.

Video Contents

00:00 Beginning
00:30 Become a Patreon: https://patreon.com/slyflourish
02:34 Ptolus by Monte Cook Games
11:27 Van Richten's Guide and overly positive early reviews
16:50 New Adventures c Can we see more optimistic adventures?
24:39 Are WOTC hardback adventures all about marketing?
34:50 How do we steal from published adventures for our own game?
44:05 Embrace third-party D&D publishers
51:34 New Sly Flourish three-minute tip videos
56:52 Mire's End – A Patreon-exclusive adventure location coming soon
58:54 Increasing Patreon subscription for new patrons?
1:05:13 Frostmaiden: Auril's Endless Night
1:13:21 Auril as a "Front"
1:16:40 Frostmaiden as a Three-Act Story
1:21:00 Sub-quests and hooks for Chapter 2

Focus On Your Next Game

Wed, 12 May 2021 12:48:00 -0400

Another short episode in which Mike talks about the importance of focusing on your next D&D game.

Lazy D&D Prep: Rime of the Frostmaiden Session 12

Sun, 09 May 2021 11:20:15 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Three Tips to Draw D&D Players Into the Fiction in Three Minutes

Fri, 07 May 2021 18:12:09 -0400

Mike offers three tips to draw players into the fiction of your D&D game in three minutes.

Frostmaiden Session 11: A Beautiful Mine Part 2

Sun, 02 May 2021 12:16:37 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Three Beginning Tips for Rime of the Frostmaiden

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 13:03:00 -0400

Mike offers three quick tips for getting started running Rime of the Frostmaiden.

Podcast Contents

00:00 Intro
00:27 Tip 1: Apply the Right Character Motivation
01:33 Tip 2: Start in Bryn Shander
02:42 Tip 3: Add the Cult of Auril

Frostmaiden Session 10: A Beautiful Mine Part 1

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 12:07:51 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

DM Deep Dive on Venture Maidens with Celeste Conowitch

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:17:09 -0400

Mike talks with Celeste Conowitch of 2C Gaming about her upcoming Venture Maidens campaign sourcebook currently live on Kickstarter!

Frostmaiden Session 9: Targos and Termalaine

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 15:05:10 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Running Hordes: Guidelines for D&D Battles with Hundreds of Monsters

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 13:02:00 -0400

Mike offers guidelines for running huge hordes of monsters in D&D and looks at a number of alternative approaches.

Podcast Contents

00:00 Intro
00:41 Mike's recommended horde system
05:03 Why we care about horde guidelines
05:58 Mike's criteria for good horde guidelines
06:54 Horde guidelines from the Dungeon Master's Guide (Chap 8, Pg 250)
08:26 4e D&D style minions
09:38 Single-stat-block hordes
10:36 5e Hardcore Mode's horde guidelines
12:09 13th Age mook rules
13:25 Mike's recommended horde guidelines review
15:53 Problems with Mike's horde guidelines
18:14 The importance of horde guidelines for D&D

DM Deep Dive on Skill Challenges with Teos Abadia

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 21:39:41 -0400

Mike chats with Teos Abadia about D&D skill challenges!

Frostmaiden Session 8: House of the Triad Finale

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 11:04:48 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Ability Checks, Failing Forward, and Succeeding with a Cost

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:54:00 -0400

Mike gives a short talk about ability checks, failing forward, and succeeding with a cost.

Podcast Contents:

00:00 Intro
00:38 The core mechanic of D&D
01:35 You don't need an ability check for easy stuff
02:02 Easy steps to choose a DC
03:04 DCs don't change based on the character's abilities
03:52 The power of improvising ability checks
04:32 Ability checks in complicated situations
07:08 Understand the in-world situation instead of focusing on mechanics
09:09 Asking for a check without a DC to see if they succeed at a cost
10:45 The improvisational power of ability checks, succeeding at a cost, and failing forward

Frostmaiden Session 7: House of the Triad

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 11:14:56 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Frostmaiden Session 6: Holed Up Finale

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 15:21:28 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

D&D Quest Model: The Three-of-Five Collection Quest

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:47:00 -0400

Mike describes a robust D&D adventure or campaign quest model that offers a lot of flexibility and prevents quests from being thwarted with the capture or removal of a single key.

Frostmaiden Session 5: Holed Up Part 2

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 16:22:57 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Game Pacing in D&D

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:21:00 -0400

Mike offers tips and tricks to maintain a good pace in your D&D game; one of the most important traits a DM can practice.

Show Notes

Books and Articles

Frostmaiden Session 4: Holed Up

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 11:27:14 -0400

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Frostmaiden Session 3: The Mead Must Flow - Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 11:14:15 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Be on the Players' Side

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:53:00 -0500

Mike talks about the importance of being on the players' side when we run our D&D games.

Youtube video version

Core principles

- Working *with* the players, not against them.
- You're not a competitor.
- The DM is an antenna to another world. We're the vehicle for storytelling.
- We're not the baddies. We're not our villains. We're not on the opposite side of the chess board.
- We're *fans* of the characters (Thanks Dungeon World!)
- The players understand about half of what's going on.
- The characters understand far more than the players do.
- The characters are smart and skilled in their roles. They have knowledge the characters do not.
- Fun doesn't mean just upward beats, it means risk and reward, upward and downward beats. Hard situations and hard meaningful decisions.

The DM's Job

- Build the situation around the story, not around the characters.
- Clarify that situation to the players. We're their eyes and ears.
- Help them meet their intent.
- Let the dice complicate things. They are the cold-hearted arbiter of the results of the situation.
- Balance acting true to the situation with the fun of the game; leaning towards fun and away from things that are *not* fun.
- The world and the story puts the characters in hard situations. The DM helps the characters make informed choices to navigate those situations.

Examples

- Warn them when they're walking into a potentially deadly situation.
- Assume characters that aren't involved in investigating a trap aren't putting themselves at risk.
- Let characters move that extra five feet if they can't quite get up to a monster.
- Ask the characters to make a group stealth check even if they don't ask for it if it makes sense that they'd be sneaking.
- Use characters passive scores to locate secret doors.
- Ask "are you sure" when they're doing something that clearly won't work or is clearly dangerous.
- Let players roll back spells cast if their character would know that it clearly wouldn't have worked. "A 1st level sleep spell won't be powerful enough to put them to sleep."
- Ask for the players intent and help them reach it.
- Offer deals: "You can make a DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana) check to channel energy from the unstable arcane node. On a success, enemies will have disadvantage on their saving throws against your spell. Fail and you'll take 2d10 force damage."
- Remind the players about advantageous terrain.
- Give players hints and clues about puzzles their characters would clearly understand.
- Remind players of things their characters would likely remember.
- Use skill checks and the characters' backgrounds go offer clues and tips.
- In complicated situations, offer strategic recommendations the players may not recognize.
- Remind players of impending dangers: "You have two rounds left before the orcish hoard falls upon you".
- Remind the players about items their characters possess that they may have forgotten.
- Offer suggestions for spell uses players might not remember or consider.
- Give characters inspiration or advantage when they take risky moves that move the story forward.
- Offer alternatives: "You can charge the first one and attack or you can ready your attack for the first one to charge up to you and stay close to your protecting paladin."
- Clarify impossibilities: "Hard as you might try, this door is beyond your capability to break down.

Work With Your Players

- D&D is a cooperative game and we're part of that cooperative.
- We have to know when to let bad things happen.
- Build trust with the players. Don't violate it. Be on their side. Avoid "gotcha"s.
- The world is cruel, you are not.

Frostmaiden Session 2: The Mead Must Flow - Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 11:15:07 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Running Great D&D Combat

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:04:00 -0500

Mike discusses tips for running awesome D&D combat.

Original Youtube Video

Support Sly Flourish on Patreon

Podcast Contents

00:00 Intro
00:18 Run with four players.
00:57 Run lower level games. Level 3 is the sweet spot.
01:38 Use static monster damage.
02:15 Run theater of the mind combat for small battles.
03:02 Inject the story and fiction into large battles.
04:49 Draw characters in off-turn with skill checks and info.
05:36 Use abstract maps – break out of the grid.
08:04 Ask for intent.
09:13 Have alternative goals - Add a Combat Out.
11:04 Don't say "Let's Call it Right Here".
11:53 Adjusting the dials (HP, Damage, Number of Monsters, Number of Attacks).
13:11 Offer Cinematic Advantage
15:10 Randomly select targets
16:06 Make boss fights interesting

Relevant articles

DM Deep Dive: Fairness vs. Being Fans of the Characters with Ryan Servis

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:42:09 -0500

Mike talks with Ryan Servis of 2C Gaming about the role of the DM and debating objectivity versus a bias towards the characters in our D&D games.

Frostmaiden Session 1: Foaming Mugs - Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 15:11:10 -0500

Mike prepares for his latest session of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Rime of the Frostmaiden Session Zero - Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 11:40:56 -0500

This week Mike prepares for his session zero of Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden!

Eberron Campaign Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 10:58:10 -0500

Mike's final thoughts on his homebrew Eberron campaign. This is a rebroadcast of Mike’s Lazy DM Prep show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

Original Youtube Video

Eberron Campaign Notebook

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Safety Tools in D&D

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 13:03:00 -0500

Mike talks about safety tools in D&D including the X-card, lines and veils, script change, and others.

Youtube version of this discussion

Resources

Video Contents

00:00 What are safety tools?

01:05 Why use safety tools?

03:01 The X-Card

03:39 Lines and Veils

08:11 Script Change

09:13 The Door is Open

10:20 Why do I suddenly care?

13:48 A Safety Tool Stack (rating, lines & veils, "pause")

16:27 Recognizing full-consent decisions versus majority rule

17:49 DMs using "Pause for a Second"

19:18 More on why we want safety tools

23:08 The Awesome Value of free tools

DM's Deep Dive: Dave Chalker on D&D Combat Styles

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:32:00 -0500

Mike talks with Dave Chalker about the various combat styles we can bring to D&D including gridded combat, abstract maps, and theater of the mind.

This is a rebroadcast of the show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Eberron Session 46 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 11:12:00 -0500

Mike's latest episode of Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep for his homebrew Eberron game. This is a rebroadcast of Mike’s Lazy DM Prep show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

All About 4th Edition D&D with Enrique Bertran

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:19:00 -0500

In this somewhat-raw discussion with Mike Shea (@slyflourish) and Enrique Bertran (@NewbieDM) we talk about our experiences with the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons!

Youtube Version of the Chat

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Eberron Session 45 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 11:08:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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Descent into Avernus Chapter 4, 5, and Final Tips

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:11:00 -0500

Mike covers tips and tricks for running chapter 3 from Descent into Avernus.

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Video Contents

00:00 Intro
00:25 Mike's Top Tips for Descent into Avernus
08:14 Chapter 4 Discussion
18:50 Chapter 5 Discussion
27:52 Overall Thoughts on Descent into Avernus
33:18 Do I recommend it? Maybe?
36:08 Useful Descent into Avernus Supplements

Eberron Session 44 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 11:18:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Eberron Session 43 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:31:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Eberron Session 42 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 11:37:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Eberron Session 41 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 11:17:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Eberron Session 40 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 11:28:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

This episode is brought to you ad-free by the patrons of Sly Flourish.

Eberron Session 39 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 11:19:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 38 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 11:25:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 37 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 11:24:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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D&D Chat, 28 Nov 2020

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 19:03:00 -0500

Mike chats about D&D in this long open episode on a range of topics.

Youtube Version

Video contents00:00 Beginning01:00 Support Sly Florish on Patreon01:20 Sly Flourish Newsletter03:05 Tiny thoughts on Tasha's – proficiency bonus for limited options04:57 Pointcrawls24:45 Thoughts on Five-Room Dungeons, Lazy Dungeons, Jaquaying the Dungeon34:09 The hard parts of D&D, Sly Flourish's Uncovered Secrets50:03 Fantastic Lairs update and Art Preview58:31 How does 5e hold up after 6 years?1:23:25 On traps. 1:25:36 Favorite Kobold Press book: Midgard Worldbook 1:29:55 Random tables and factions for DM inspiration1:36:08 Rime of the Frostmaiden Thoughts1:47:24 When things click. Thoughts on group improvisation in D&D games.1:51:51 Playing D&D Online, comparing various VTTs1:58:55 Running Owlbear Rodeo2:09:28 Lazy Monster Generation

Sly Flourish Patreonhttp://patreon.com/slyflourish

Sly Flourish Newsletterhttps://slyflourish.com/subscribe/

Jaquaying the Dungeon on Alexandrianhttps://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/...

Jaquaying Checklist

* Multiple entrances* Two+ paths through* Loops* Level connections* Secret paths* Divided levels* Nested dungeons * Dead ends

Articles on Point Crawls

http://detectmagic.blogspot.com/2014/...http://hillcantons.blogspot.com/2014/...http://spriggans-den.com/2016/08/15/w...https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/20...https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/...https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/...https://www.tribality.com/2019/10/15/...

On Trapshttps://slyflourish.com/flow_of_trap_...

Midgard Worldbookhttps://koboldpress.com/kpstore/produ...

Random Eberron Factionshttps://slyflourish.com/1d100_eberron...

Random Forgotten Realms Factionshttps://slyflourish.com/1d100_forgott...

Foundry VTT:http://foundryvtt.com

Owlbear Rodeo:https://www.owlbear.rodeo

Notion.so Lazy D&D Prep template:https://www.notion.so/Lazy-Campaign-T...

Using Notion.so for Lazy D&D Campaign Planninghttps://slyflourish.com/lazy_dnd_with...

Buy Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master http://slyflourish.com/returnofthelaz...

Buy Fantastic Adventures: Ruins of the Grendleroothttps://slyflourish.com/grendleroot/

Support us on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/slyflourish

Buy the Lazy DM's Workbook http://slyflourish.com/lazydmsworkbook/

Sly Flourish Discord Channelhttps://discord.gg/C7bSuqZ

Descent into Avernus Chapter 3: A Sly Flourish Guide

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:24:00 -0500

Mike covers tips and tricks for running chapter 3 from Descent into Avernus.

Original Youtube Video

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Table of Contents

00:00 Start00:34 Mike's #1 Recommendation for Descent into Avernus01:22 Run Fall of Elturel02:05 James Introcaso's Top Tips for Chapter 305:58 Alternative Takes on Descent into Avernus08:33 The Themes of Descent into Avernus10:05 On Soul Coins. Use Demon Ichor as well.12:07 All Roads lead to the Bleeding Citadel13:00 Build Your Own Path through Avernus13:21 The Path of the Hellriders19:41 Alternative Paths: Tiamat and Gargauth22:11 Dropping in the Hellwasp Nest23:11 Filling Out the Crypt of the Hellriders23:37 The Wandering Emporium. Players Hate Contracts!26:15 Traveling Through Avernus28:28 Descent into Avernus as a Toolbox28:51 Chapter 1 as a Stand Alone Aventure Sans Avernus

Eberron Session 36 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 15:05:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 35 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 11:16:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 34 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 11:29:00 -0500

Mike's latest episode of Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep for his homebrew Eberron game in which he prepares for a session zero. This is a rebroadcast of Mike’s Lazy DM Prep show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 33 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 11:32:00 -0500

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 32 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 11:28:00 -0400

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 31 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 11:29:00 -0400

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 30 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 11:36:00 -0400

Original Youtube Video

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Eberron Session 29 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 11:22:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 28 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 11:21:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 27 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 11:56:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 26 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 11:16:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 25 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 11:39:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 24 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 11:27:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 23 – Sly Flourish’s Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 11:35:00 -0400

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Running the Deadly Lich

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 14:19:00 -0400

Mike describes how to best run the lich; the most difficult of D&D monsters.

This is a rebroadcast of Mike’s Lazy DM Prep show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

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Eberron Session 22 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 14:12:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 21 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 14:11:00 -0400

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Descent into Avernus Running Chapter 2 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 14:17:00 -0400

Mike discusses prepping and running his Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus games. This is a rebroadcast of Mike’s Lazy DM Prep show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

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Eberron Session 20 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 14:10:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 19 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 14:10:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 18 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 14:09:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 17 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 14:09:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 16 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 14:08:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 15 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 14:06:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 14 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 14:07:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 13 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 14:05:00 -0400

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Descent into Avernus Running Chapter 1 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 14:16:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 12 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 14:04:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 11 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 31 May 2020 14:03:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 10 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 24 May 2020 14:03:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 9

Sun, 24 May 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - concludes a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session 9 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 17 May 2020 14:02:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 8

Sun, 17 May 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session 8 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 10 May 2020 14:01:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 7

Sun, 10 May 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session 7 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 03 May 2020 14:00:00 -0400

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DM's Deep Dive - Episode 30

Sun, 03 May 2020 12:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - talks to Lauren Urban about online gaming, and making the best use of D&D Beyond.

Descent into Avernus Session 3 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sat, 02 May 2020 14:16:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 6 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 13:58:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 6

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session 5 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 13:56:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 5

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session 4 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 13:55:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 4

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Descent into Avernus Session 2 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 14:15:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 3

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 15:22:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session 3 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 13:54:00 -0400

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Playing D&D over Discord

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 14:18:00 -0400

Mike describes how to run D&D games over Discord. This is a largely visual episode so please forgive the poor podcast format for this show.

This is a rebroadcast of Mike’s Lazy DM Prep show broadcast live on Twitch and reposted to YouTube and here in podcast form.

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Eberron Session 2 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 13:49:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 2

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 04:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - continues a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Descent into Avernus Session 1 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 14:14:00 -0400

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Eberron Session 1 – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 13:41:00 -0400

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Dragon of Icespire Peak 1

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:36:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - runs a one-on-one D&D game with Enrique Bertran - aka NewbieDM! It’s the Dragon of Icespire Peak in podcast form!

Eberron Session Zero – Sly Flourish's Lazy DM Prep

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 13:07:00 -0400

The first episode of Mike's Lazy DM Prep for his homebrew Eberron game in which he prepares for a session zero.

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DM's Deep Dive - Episode 29

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - chats with Professional GM and writer The GM Tim to discuss professional game mastering.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 27

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 06:30:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - chats with D&Duet blogger and D&D designer Beth Ball to discuss one of the recent popular ways to play Dungeons & Dragons - one-on-one!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 26

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 13:15:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - sits down with Keith Ammann to discuss how monsters could behave based on their stat blocks and lore!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 25

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 06:30:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - sits down with Dr. Megan Connell to discuss how to move on from a bad game or session of an RPG.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 24

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 20:17:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - sits down with D&D Designer and writer Teos Abadia to discuss level appropriate adventures, from starting levels to end-game!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 23

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 12:44:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by David Christ, creator and owner of Baldman Games, to discuss how to run an organized play company and the process and thought that goes into the logistics of organizing so many dungeon masters.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 22

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 13:52:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - chats with writer and game designer Wolfgang Baur of Kobold Press to discuss Worldbuilding.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 21

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 10:41:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - chats with writer and game designer James Haeck to discuss running Dungeons & Dragons set in cities.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 20

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 11:18:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - chats with Dungeon World creator and DM extraordinaire Adam Koebel about narrative storytelling and its influence on 5th Edition D&D.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 19

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:21:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - meets with Lysa Chen to discuss the Adventurers League, the official organized play campaign for Dungeons & Dragons!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 18

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 07:53:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by Dungeons & Dragons Lead Rules Designer Jeremy Crawford to discuss monster design for D&D 5E, along with answering your questions!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 17

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 06:27:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by Dragon Con organizer and Adventurer's League Veteran Paige Leitman to discuss what lessons in-person RPS sessions can learn from streaming shows, and vice versa.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 16

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 03:40:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by the "D&D Bad Boy" Grant Ellis to discuss RPG streaming and the state of the industry today.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 15

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 16:57:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by Sharon Dudley to discuss accessibility in Dungeons & Dragons games.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 14

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 04:30:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by fellow DSPN Podcast host Enrique Bertran - aka Newbie DM - to discuss everything miniatures!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 13

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 02:08:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - talks to Emily Dresner about financial economics in Dungeons & Dragons.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 12

Fri, 29 Dec 2017 05:02:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by Teos Abadia, an experienced DM and adventure writer, to discuss Encounter Building in D&D 5E.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 11

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 14:01:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined Wizards of the Coast writer and Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition lead designer Mike Mearls! They discuss 5E and how things have been going since the game's launch in 2014.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 10

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 22:04:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined Dwarven Forge Guru and artist Stefan Pokorny to discuss how to best use 3D Terrain in your Dungeons & Dragons game

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 9

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 20:07:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by game designer and Ennie winning Podcaster Robin D. Laws to discuss Story Beats in RPGs.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 8

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:14:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by James Introcaso to talk about Virtual Table Tops and how they're affecting RPGs in the modern age.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 7

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 06:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by Matthew Mercer, noted voice actor and Dungeon Master for the Dungeons & Dragons series Critical Role and Force Grey: Giant Hunters!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 6

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 13:27:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - is joined by Tom Lommel, the Dungeon Bastard, to discuss improvisation in Dungeons & Dragons, both as a DM and as a player.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 5

Tue, 30 May 2017 06:30:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - discusses Dungeons & Dragons and Full-Time DM'ing on Twitch with Will from EncounterRP!

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 4

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 07:47:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka Sly Flourish - discusses the storied history of Dungeons and Dragons and its several editions with D&D scholar David Hartlage (DM David).

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 3

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 07:26:00 -0400

Mike Shea - aka SlyFlourish - is joined by adventure writer and long-time Dungeon Master Shawn Merwin, to discuss how to run the most effective 1 hour adventure.

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 2

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 16:08:00 -0500

Mike Shea - aka Slyflourish - discusses organized and convention play, and how it differs from home games. Joining him Teos Abadia, an experienced DM with thousands of hours running organized play games.

Watch more episodes live at https://www.twitch.tv/dontsplitthepodcast

DM's Deep Dive - Episode 1

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 12:44:00 -0500

Welcome to the DM's Deep Dive with Mike Shea, a monthly podcast where veteran Dungeon Master Mike Shea - known as Slyflourish to many - sits down with a friend and fellow DM to have an in-depth discussion on a specific topic. This month he is joined by Enrique Bertran, aka NewbieDM, to discuss tips and advice for new DMs in this digital era. For more info on this show, visit www,dontsplitthepodcastnetwork.com

The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

D&D Beyond Drops – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Putrescent Hestor – Dragon Empire Prep Session 65

Thoughts on the WOTC Magic Arena Union – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Ossuary of Mot Part 2 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 64

The $140 Artificer Subclass – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Ossuary of Mot – Dragon Empire Prep Session 63

Fighter Wizard Elf – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Journey to Starhoof – Dragon Empire Prep Session 62

Bad Dungeon Beats – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Death of Kal – Dragon Empire Prep Session 61

Procedures for RPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Dragonbane Review

Should WOTC Make New Campaigns Settings? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Save the Sultana – Dragon Empire Prep Session 60

The Roadblock for New RPGs – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Journey to Valera – Dragon Empire Prep Session 59

New D&D News – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Journey to Siwal – Dragon Empire Prep Session 58

Discord Woes – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Sarklan Desert – Dragon Empire Prep Session 57

A Tale of Two Solos – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Selket's Sting – Dragon Empire Prep Session 56

We All Won – Three Years since the OGL Crisis – Lazy RPG Talk show

Battling Trivvan – Dragon Empire Prep Session 55

Down Among the Dead Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Assault on Third Heaven – Dragon Empire Prep Session 54

Not Like This – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Twin Dragons – Dragon Empire Prep Session 53

I Played Crows at PAGE 3 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Journey to Nurduran – Dragon Empire Prep Session 52

Dolmenwood Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Saving Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 51

Stranger Things Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Journey to Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 50

Tabletop RPGs 2025 Year in Review – The Lazy RPG Talk Show

Tower of Horn and Gold – Dragon Empire Prep Session 49

Save Dungeon Tube! – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Ghoul Emperor – Dragon Empire Prep Session 48

D&D Beyond AMA – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Parsis the Hidden – Dragon Empire Prep Session 47

A Tale of Two Session Zeros – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Smuggling Wyvonir Part 1 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 46

Exciting RPGs of 2026 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Dragonbane Campaign Prep

Favorite RPG Products of 2025 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Blood Mage – Dragon Empire Prep Session 45

What Is the OSR? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Blood Spire Part 2 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 44

D&D School Resources Return – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Blood Spire – Dragon Empire Prep Session 43

Forgotten Realms Heroes and Adventures in Faerun Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Void Dragon – Dragon Empire Prep Session 42

Project Sigil Ends – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Top GM Tips Gamehole Con 2025 Seminar – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Beautiful Mess of 5e Gamehole Con Seminar – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Void Portal – Dragon Empire Prep Session 41

Back Up your Digital RPG Stuff – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Eustasia Stonegaze – Dragon Empire Prep Session 40

Land of Eem Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Heroes of Four of Forty Fingers – Dragon Empire Prep Session 39

Did WOTC Pay Critical Role? (No) – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Return to the Shrine of the Lower Left Hand – Dragon Empire Prep Session 38

Is WOTC Being a Good Steward of D&D? Fall 2025 Update! – Lazy RPG Talk Show

D&D Starter Set – Heroes of the Borderlands – First Look

Dragonbane Boxed Set Spotlight – Lazy RPG Talk Show

What is the Best 5e? – Lazy RPG Talk Show Special

More on Daggerheart Initiative – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Sunspear – Dragon Empire Prep Session 37

Daggerheart Initial Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Sapphire's Song – Dragon Empire Prep Session 36

Critical Role Chooses D&D 2024 – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Seggotan's Anvil – Dragon Empire Prep Session 35

D&D Versus Magic the Gathering – Lazy RPG Talk Show

The Helm of Teleportation – Dragon Empire Prep Session 34

Lose Yourself in Fiction – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Din of the Void – Dragon Empire Prep Session 33

"Welecome Back" to D&D? – Lazy RPG Talk Show

Colosseum of the Red Sun – Dragon Empire Prep Session 32

Who is the Stranger Things D&D Starter Set For? – Lazy RPG Talk Show