Mastering Dungeons
by Mastering Dungeons
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!
Episodes
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Caves of Chaos and Keep in the Heroes of the Borderlands 5.5 Starter Set!
Episode 314 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Caves of Chaos and Keep in the Heroes of the Borderlands 5.5 Starter Set! We dive into the heart of the starter set. See how the updated Caves of Chaos and Keep on the Borderlands drive open play experiences! News: Dan Ayoub Elevated to WotC…
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Best of Heroes of the Borderlands 5.5 Starter Set!
Episode 314 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Heroes of the Borderlands 5.5 Starter Set! One year after 5.5 launched – was it worth the wait? We look at this innovative starter set and how it updates the classic Keep on the Borderlands! News: Hasbro and D&D’s Q3 Revenue Growth, D&D...
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James Introcaso on Crows, Draw Steel, and MCDM! Live from Gamehole Con!
Episode 313 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: James Introcaso on Crows, Draw Steel, and MCDM! Live from Gamehole Con! The incredible James Introcaso discusses the last six years at MCDM, including the creation of Draw Steel and Crows, plus insights into being a creator in the industry. (No...
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Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing!
Episode 312 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Remonstered! Keith Ammann Updates The Monsters Know What They’re Doing! Keith joins Teos to discuss his innovations for running great monsters, how 5.5 monsters have changed, and the best new and updated monsters! News: D&D and Magic Joining Union…
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Best of Dragons of Stormwreck Isle and the 3rd Starter Set!
Episode 311 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Dragons of Stormwreck Isle and the 3rd Starter Set! 5E’s 3rd Starter Set brings fewer components, a lower price point, and all the dragons! See why we harpy about why this is ghoul enough for you. News: Free Warcraft D&D Adventure, D&D...
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Best of Dragon of Icespire Peak and the Essentials Kit!
Episode 310 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Dragon of Icespire Peak and the Essentials Kit! 5E’s second Starter Set brings huge innovation, from Sidekicks to Quest Boards and Initiative Cards! Our review is more fun than a mimic in a gnome home. News: Wizards Fires and Hires, Warcraft...
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Creating Mistborn and the Cosmere RPG with Lyla Fujiwara and Lydia Suen!
Episode 309 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Creating Mistborn and the Cosmere RPG with Lyla and Lydia! Lyla Fujiwara (Cosmere RPG Director) and Lydia Suen (Cosmere Lead Designer) of Brotherwise Games join us to share what it took to create the Mistborn Setting for the Cosmere RPG! Learn about...
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Best of Lost Mine of Phandelver, the first D&D Starter Set!
Episode 308 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Lost Mine of Phandelver, the first D&D Starter Set! The adventure (and rules) that kicked off 5E! We look at why every starter set has to measure itself against this one. News: Dan Ayoub on Leading D&D, 5 New Underdark Species, D&D Encounters...
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Amanda Hamon and Arcana Unleashed!
Episode 307 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Arcana Unleased with Amanda Hamon! Amanda joins us to discuss the Arcana Unleashed products she led – the process, the design, and the exciting contents of both books! News: Ravenloft Netflix TV Show, New D&D Beyond Drops, PAX West Report, and more!...
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Best of Acquisitions Incorporated: Orrery of the Wanderer!
Episode 306 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Acquisitions Incorporated: Orrery of the Wanderer! Completely unbiased coverage of the best and most perfect adventure ever written! You will love this show, or your money back. News: D&D’s Secret Survey, Universes Beyond Hiring, Warlock...
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Keys to Success from Tomas Härenstam of Free League!
Episode 305 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Tomas Härenstam of Free League! Free League’s CEO and frequent designer discusses how the company began and grew, how they tackle crowdfunding, IPs, partnerships, organized play, and more! News: D&D Gives You Ceremorphosis, Wizards Polls Your Trust,...
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Best of Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen!
Episode 303 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen! Dragonlance is Back! Come see why this adventure deserves a second chance. News: Critical Role Lands Emmy, D&D Drops Oozes and Errata, Pathfinder on DriveThru, and more! Contents 00:00 Gamehole with…
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Adam Bradford, from D&D Beyond to Free League Unbound!
Episode 303 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Adam Bradford, from D&D Beyond to Free League Unbound! Adam Bradford joins us to discuss Free League's amazing Unbound platform and his voyage to and from D&D Beyond, including his design projects like Invincible and Forgotten Odysseys. News: Diamond...
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Dark Sun, Star Wars, Warcraft, Greyhawk, and All D&D Gen Con News!
Episode 302 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Dark Sun, Star Wars, Warcraft, Greyhawk, and All D&D Gen Con News! Wizards of the Coast goes all-out with a D&D Tower, Carnival, Drone Show, and tons of peaks at upcoming releases. News: Wizards President Departs, Free League Unbound, Daggerheart...
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Best of Spelljammer Light of Xaryxis!
Episode 301 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: The Best of Spelljammer Light of Xaryxis! An adventure crafted to feel like an old sci-fi TV show? We look at how well it captures the classic Spelljammer setting. News: World of Warcraft and D&D? Hasbro Q2 Growth? D&D Movie Sequel Script? And more!...
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Sirrangia and Worldbuilding Through Campaign Building!
Episode 300 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Sirrangia and Worldbuilding Through Campaign Building! Now that we are creating an adventure setting for our top Patreon supporters, we look at worldbuilding through the lens of campaign building. News: Season of Magic Launches, Big D&D Gen Con…
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Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster with Mike Shea aka Sly Flourish!
Episode 299 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster with Mike Shea aka Sly Flourish! Mike Shea aka Sly Flourish joins Shawn to discuss his latest book providing GM advice! News: D&D Fan Expo Canceled, 2026 ENnie Nominees, July D&D Drops, and more! Contents 00:00 Mike Shea…
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Why The Wild Beyond The Witchlight is So Good!
Episode 298 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of The Wild Beyond the Witchlight! It’s easy to be positive when Shawn and Teos review one of the finest 5E adventures! Hear why this adventure excels! News: Wizards has a Union, Latest D&D Jobs, Have We Moved Past the OGL, and more! Contents...
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Mystic Arts and Creator Publishing
Episode 297 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Mystic Arts and Creator Publishing! Daði Einars joins Teos to discuss RPG design, gameplay, and his work with Mystic Arts to create for Patreon, YouTube, and your table! News: Vampire the Masquerade for D&D, New D&D Card Decks, WotC Staff Explain…
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Best of Rime of the Frostmaiden!
Episode 296 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Rime of the Frostmaiden! We review this mega sourcebook and adventure in a single episode! See which parts of the cold will warm your heart. News: Paizo’s Difficult Future, Renegade Drops Essence20 for 5E, City of Greyhawk on DDB, 3/4 of D&D...
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D&D Encounters Unboxing!
Episode 295 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: D&D Encounters Unboxing! We unbox the D&D Encounters Ravenloft season contents and share the design of the Shadows of Sithicus adventure! News: WotC Changes Drops Policy, Neon Odyssey Breaks Records, Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 Remakes, Ravenloft Finishes...
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Best of Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus!
Episode 294 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus! This adventure changed drastically to become a prequel to the highly successful Baldur’s Gate 3. We take a look at the best the adventure offers! News: Ravenloft Horrors Within Early Access, Kickstarter...
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Best of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage!
Episode 293 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage! Undermountain comes to 5E! We delve into Halaster’s secrets and the best of the 23 wild dungeon levels! News: Hasbro’s Strong Q1, Crows RPG Playtest, Daggerheart Birthday News, D&D Video Game Canceled, and...
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Best of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist! (MD 292)
Episode 292 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist! Urban adventures come to 5E. Decide which faction we belong to as we find the best travel spots in all of Waterdeep! News: Daggerheart’s Birthday, Mordenkainen vs Bahamut, Crowdfunding Whale Trends, and more! Contents...
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The Famous and Infamous Tomb of Horrors! (MD 291)
Episode 291 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: The Famous and Infamous Tomb of Horrors! We look back at one of the most feared adventures across RPGs! We discuss how to have fun with this adventure and revisit the most interesting challenges it presents. News: D&D Beyond Drops, Hasbro’s CEO on...
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Best of Tomb of Annihilation! (MD 290)
Episode 290 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Tomb of Annihilation! Welcome to the jungle as we explore the hottest parts of Tomb of Annihilation! News: D&D on Ted TV Show, D&D Beyond Class Packs, Small Kickstarter Math, UBI and Creative Hobbies, and more! Contents 00:00 Weekend of...
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Best of Gary Gygax’s Against the Giants G1-2-3! (MD 289)
Episode 289 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Against the Giants G1-2-3! We revisit the classic Against the Giants Dungeons & Dragons adventure, including the very first adventure ever published for D&D! Join us as we walk the halls, glacier, and steading to find the best of this...
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How Good is D&D’s New Website? (MD 288)
Episode 288 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: How Good is D&D’s New Website? We take a look at D&D’s new site and discuss how well it works for new players, community, Baldur’s Gate fans, new Ravenloft and actual play reveals, and much more! News: New Ravenloft Details, Dungeon Masters AP,...
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Best of Storm King’s Thunder! (MD 287)
Episode 287 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Storm King’s Thunder! Bring the thunder with this giant-filled D&D 5E adventure! Shawn and Teos review what truly makes this adventure shine. News: Big Patreon News, New D&D Job Speculation, Hasbro’s AI Principles, Ravenloft Comics, and more!...
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Best of Curse of Strahd (MD286)
Episode 286 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Curse of Strahd! One of 5E's highest-rated adventures! Jeff Mueller joins Shawn to discuss why it is so good and how Jeff is running it yet again - this time for Daggerheart! News: MegaDungeon Month, BG3 TV Show Delays, UA Villainous Options,...
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Best of Out of the Abyss! (MD 285)
Episode 285 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Out of the Abyss! Out of the Abyss may be one of the finest Underdark sourcebooks D&D has created… and it’s also an adventure! See what really shines in Out of the Abyss. News: We Try D&D Beyond’s Quickbuilder, Colbert Helms Lord of the…
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Shawn and Teos Do Things For the First Time!
Shawn and Teos Do Things For the First Time! Welcome to a special edition show, modeled after YouTube's increasingly hard-to-attain quality standards. Contents 00:00 First Read of ToEE! 00:26 First Time Rolling Dice 01:08 First Time Seeing 5.5 Thank you for listening! Get the full show notes with...
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Why is Temple of Elemental Evil So Good? (MD 284)
Episode 284 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Temple of Elemental Evil! Shawn and Teos dive into the classic Temple of Elemental Evil, inspiring countless spinoffs including 5E’s Princes of the Apocalypse. From elemental factions to demigods, we look at the best of this design. News: D&D...
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D&D Encounters Program with Chris Tulach! (MD 283)
Episode 283 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: D&D Encounters Program with Chris Tulach! Chris Tulach, organized play manager for D&D, shares how the revised D&D Encounters program will work for stores and home play, including the upcoming celebration event! Chris also discusses the latest with...
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Matt Colville Blows Our Minds on MCDM and the TTRPG Industry! (MD 282)
Episode 282 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Matt Colville Blows Our Minds on MCDM and the TTRPG Industry! Matt Colville is here to absolutely blow our minds on how MCDM operates, how it pays, how it has worked to reach an audience, and what the rest of the industry might learn from that! News:...
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D&D Beyond’s Staff Looks to the Future! (MD 281)
Episode 281 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: D&D Beyond’s Staff Looks to the Future! Brian Perry (DDB Executive Producer) and Zac Cohn (MAPS Product Manager) join Teos and Shawn to share D&D Beyond’s bold future! News: New D&D London Expo, MCDM Hires for the Future, Critical Role Hires from...
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Best of Princes of the Apocalypse! (MD 280)
Episode 280 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Best of Princes of the Apocalypse! Teos and Shawn share the best of Princes of the Apocalypse, an adventure that brings back elemental evil and the elder elemental eye to D&D! News: D&D Beyond’s Roadmap, AEG Parts with Dancey, More WotC Hiring, and...
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Why is Red Hand of Doom So Good? (MD 279)
Episode 279 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Why is Red Hand of Doom So Good? Teos and Shawn share the best of Red Hand of Doom, a fan-favorite adventure from 3rd edition D&D! News: Hasbro vs Wizards Q4 Results, How AI is Used at Hasbro, Dark Heart of the Wood, and more! Contents 00:00 Bringing...
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What Made Tyranny of Dragons Great? (MD 278)
Episode 278 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: What Made Tyranny of Dragons Great? Teos and Shawn look back at the first 5E hardback adventure, Tyranny of Dragons, discussing our favorite aspects of Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat! News: Baldur’s Gate 3 HBO TV Show, Polygon on Vecna,...
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Working in the RPG Industry! (MD 277)
Episode 277 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Working in the RPG Industry! Shawn shares a panel he had with Jackson DiCarlo at the Running GAGG Gaming Conventions. They discuss working in the RPG industry, sharing the insights of Shawn’s long career and Jackson’s two-year experience as a…
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Rethink Your Session Zero! (MD 276)
Episode 276 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Rethink Your Session Zero! Shawn and Teos rethink all that a session zero is trying to do and how to approach each of the many goals to start your campaign! News: D&D Beyond’s Partner Schedule, D&D Proves AI’s Shortcomings, AI RPG Scams, Shawn is a...
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Legends of Greyhawk and RealmsBound with Savannah Houston-McIntyre (MD 275)
Episode 275 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Legends of Greyhawk and RealmsBound with Savannah Houston-McIntyre Savannah Houston-McIntyre is acclaimed for leading excellent projects. She walks us through the Legends of Greyhawk organized play campaign, RealmsBound with Ed Greenwood, and more!...
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Start a New Campaign for the New Year (MD 274)
Episode 274 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Start a New Campaign for the New Year It’s a new year, the perfect time to think on how to launch an awesome campaign, even if you have never DMed before! News: Stranger Things Effect? Matt Mercer Simpsons Crossover, D&D Romantasy Novel, Ed…
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The Future of RPGs in 2026? (MD 273)
Episode 273 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: The Future of RPGs in 2026? Teos and Shawn look at 2025’s huge impacts on RPGs and what 2026 might hold for our hobby! News: Daggerheart’s Executive Success, James Haek and Introcaso Changes, City 26, and more! Contents 00:00 Intro 00:59 Mastering…
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The Future of the DMs Guild? (MD 272)
Episode 272 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: The Future of the DMs Guild? Teos and Shawn look at the decline of the 10-year-old DMsGuild and lessons for all platforms, such as D&D Beyond! News: KC Chiefs Play D&D, Mythic Crowdfunding Disaster, Foundry Hiring for New RPG, and more! Contents…
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The DMs Guild’s Complex History! (MD 271)
Episode 271 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: The DMs Guild’s Complex History! Teos and Shawn enjoy a video by Trekiros and think on the incredible history of the 10-year-old DMsGuild! News: James Ohlen’s Exodus, Cosmere’s Roadmap, New Legends of Greyhawk Region, and more! Contents 00:00 Happy...
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Heroic Sacrifice and Campaign Building with Prequel and Ethan Yen (MD 270)
Episode 270 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Dying and Campaign Building with Prequel and Ethan Yen Ethan Yen joins Shawn and Teos to discuss Prequel, the amazing game where you know you will die to the big bad… but get to create a campaign defined by the secrets these heroes discover! News…
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How is an RPG Book Made? (Alphastream Collaboration)
How is an RPG Book Made? (Alphastream Collaboration) While Shawn and Teos are away, we share with you a recording Teos made with Scott F Gray, sharing the intricacies of the process for creating an RPG book. This recording appeared in two parts on the Alphastream YouTube channel and we are…
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The Beautiful Mess of 5E! (Gamehole Con 2025)
Gamehole Con 2025 and Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: The Beautiful Mess of 5E! (Gamehole Con 2025) While Shawn and Teos are away, we share with you a recording of a panel at Gamehole con where Mike Mearls, Mike Shea, Shawn, and Teos discuss the many forms of 5E available both officially and...
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Brindlewood Bay’s Cozy Horror (MD 269)
Episode 269 of Mastering Dungeons! Main topic: Brindlewood Bay’s Cozy Horror Cozy on up with our review of Brindlewood Bay. Being an elderly widow, cutting to commercial, detailing our cozy home, and drawing on classic TV? Sign us up! News: Eberron Forge of the Artificer, MCDM’s Summoner and...
About this show
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadía and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints: reporting the news, understanding the business, reviewing the products, and illuminating the design. Whether you’re a fan, a player, a DM, or a designer, Shawn and Teos cover topics of interest to you!
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Mastering Dungeons