The Dungeon Crawl

This D&D Direct was... lackluster compared to last year. It appeared to be more of a Hasbro merch grab then it was informing the D&D public of anything of serious note. But, that being said, there was some interesting and important details to still be gleaned from this D&D direct. I truly think this D&D direct says more about the future of D&D, and the current state of D&D, then anything else that has happened in recent memory (besides maybe the whole OGL fiasco). So get cozy, grab a snack, and listen to my thoughts on this D&D Direct, as well as the thoughts from a new D&D player as a special guest! Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkLinks & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Improvisation or Improv and D&D are often referred to each other in the same sentence. I have even discussed the common phrase of “Yes, And” many different times on this podcast, but have never delved into much detail on what exactly that entails. D&D at it’s core is an Improv based game, there isn’t a script, there isn’t a set path (in good games), and you and your group are constantly creating on the fly. So if we’re going to be playing an Improv game then we should learn Improv skills and elements that will make our games even better. Insert the wonderful book by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton from the world renowned comedy theatre The Second City in Chicago. This book takes the skills they have used and taught in The Second City for decades and repurposes them to be used in different settings instead of just on a stage. Reading through this book gave me a lot of insight into ways to enhance my own D&D game and experience, but also how to be a better member in groups. So let’s discuss how we can utilize these Improv skills to enhance your D&D game, and TTRPG experience. Book mentioned - Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton : https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Improvisation-Reverses-Creativity-Collaboration-Lessons/dp/0062248545Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkLinks & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

One Shots are an important part of the microsystem that is D&D and TTRPGs. They are an easy way to introduce newcomers to a system, to play with a group of people you don't particularly know very well, try out some new ideas, or just take a break while somebody else runs a game for you for once. They are one of the main sources of things you can buy on DMsGuild or DriveThruRPG as they are easier and quicker for authors to make instead of creating an entire campaign. So let's talk about One Shots, and what makes them so special. Hop into the discord or into the YouTube comments and let me know what your favorite (or least favorite) one shot story/memory is! Book mentioned - Mini Dungeon Tome by AAW Games : http://mdt.aawgames.comPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkLinks & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

So it’s been a long while since you’ve last played D&D, and now it feels as if there’s a strange barrier between you and D&D. So how do you get back into D&D and return after a long break? I’m not sure if I have that answer myself, yet after creating this episode I do think I’m closer to it. It can be difficult to reignite your passion for something after a long break from it. Our brains can make something we used to love seem so terrifying. This is a strange stream of consciousness type of episode, let me know if you enjoy this type of episode or if you prefer the more informational ones. This was helpful for me to explore why I not only enjoy D&D (like the last episode), but also a few things to keep in mind while I begin again. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkLinks & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

After surfing through the web I discovered a heartwarming post about what keeps DMs going when the going gets tough. It made me reflect upon my own experiences as a DM and on the many reasons why I enjoy being a DM. I think being a Dungeon Master comes with a set of anxieties and fears that is separate from being a player, and understandably so, you are the eyes, ears, noses, and well... everything else of the players as they experience the world you've created. But, there are so many reasons why you should be a DM regardless, it is an experience wholly unique to the TTRPG landscape and improv storytelling. So come with me and discover many reasons why you should be a DM if you are on the fence, nervous, or even if you've never thought about it.  Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

A lot has happened in the D&D space... Multiple OGL updates... some leaks... some tweets... and lots and lots of raging. Let's get an update on it all and chat about what this OGL update means for the future of D&D, and also the future of TTRPGs as a whole. We'll likely be seeing the ramifications of this for years to come, and I for one, am looking forward to it.(Also apologies for the not so lovely audio in this episode, my mixer was in the process of dying and is now no longer working, but wanted to get this up) Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     D&D OGL Update & Post/Survey - https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1439-ogl-1-0a-creative-commonsSound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Many of us have watched Dungeons & Dragons shows, and many of us got into D&D because of watching these shows. The DMs that perform in these are inspiring and daunting. Many of the things they do can be implemented in your own home game as well, but there are also things that "Pro DMs" do that I wouldn't recommend to bring into your home game... well at least without some thought beforehand. We talk about that and a few other things to take from these D&D shows and how to be a better DM in the process!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

All of us play, have played, or want to play Tabletop Role Playing Games (TTRPGs), and many of us grew up loving various board games, which now plays into our love for TTRPGs! Well if you're like us and haven't touched anything else but TTRPGs recently, there are some incredible board games out there that you can absolutely garner some inspiration from and pull into your own D&D or Pathfinder campaigns! Here we give a few recommendations and talk about our own favorites. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

The Radiant Citadel is the newest book to be released by Wizards of the Coast for D&D 5e. It is an anthology adventure series based around the "hub" area, called the Radiant Citadel. The first chapter was released for all to read for free on DNDBeyond, so we dive in, give our impressions, and if we think this looks like a book you should purchase or not.Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Your magic comes from within, an innate ability to harness the arcane magic of the world. You are a sorcerer with the power to sculpt, shape, and mold your spells to your will. The sorcerer for D&D 5e is one of the more versatile options you can play, and there are many different things to consider while building your character. Here we chat about this and a few other things to keep in mind while playing your sorcerer for D&D 5e. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Since Stranger Things has released tons of new eyes and ears have been graced upon the glorious name that is... Vecna. So, Wizards of the Coast did the smart thing and released a completely free and amazing little writeup and hard hitting stat block for Vecna in the Vecna Dossier. This stat block though has garnered some interesting conversation and what it could mean to the future of D&D 5e as we know it. Join us as we talk about this and the level 20 adventure, Don't Say Vecna!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

With the release of the latest Unearthed Arcana we were finally inspired to delve into a fairly underappreciated class, the Barbarian. We invite our good friend Kenneth, who loves the Barbarian and brings a great perspective. We chat about ways to roleplay your Barbarian, how best to build it, and some of the better subclasses to pay attention to when creating your barbarian for D&D 5e. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Do you hear that distant booming noise? That's the sound of the heavy footfalls of a Giant Unearthed Arcana! The lovely folk at Wizards of the Coast released a few new subclasses, Barbarian - Path of the Giant, Druid - Circle of the Primeval, and the Runecrafter Wizard, as well as a few new feats for all classes! Let's delve on into this hefty Unearthed Arcana!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Follow along with the Unearthed Arcana - https://dnd.wizards.com/unearthed-arcana/giant-optionsSound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

We still have a while until the next evolution of D&D releases in 2024, and we still are not sure if this will be a D&D 5.5e or a new edition - D&D 6e… But more than likely it will be something similar to what D&D 3.5e brought to the table. So - what should they do to push D&D forward and what are somethings that we specifically want? We talk about this and some more updates from D&D in this episode!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Get your free books on DNDBeyond - https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1251-claim-your-copy-of-lost-mine-of-phandelver-and#acquisitionsSound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

We return to the wonderful world of Pathfinder 2e to check out the new sourcebook, Book of the Dead. We have been excited for this one for a little bit and it did not disappoint. If you're slightly interested in PF2e in any way, shape, or form, and like Undead things, then definitely pick this up. Is an absolutely delight of a book, but why? Check out our full review!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Where to begin... So many incredible and exciting things were announced during last week's D&D Direct! From Spelljammer to Dragonlance, and some other... enticing D&D related creations there's a whole lot to talk about! So here's everything you need to know about the D&D direct!Also big apologies for the strange audio around the 14 minute mark - we believe a cat stepped on the record button and broke everything for about 9 minutes! But we caught it and fixed the error, but we didn't want you to miss anything so the audio you hear during that part is from the camera!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Healing can be quite the thankless task... So we must thank ourselves. Healing is an important task in TTRPGs - especially D&D 5e and Pathfinder 2e as any encounter in these can be deadly (depending on your DM). But how do you balance doing damage and healing? And do you need a dedicated healer or can you mix match and do whatever? We chat about that and many other fun ways to be a better healer in D&D 5e or Pathfinder 2e!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

This can sometimes be a hot button topic for some areas of the TTRPG community... If you love theater of the mind than you love theater of the mind, and vice versa with battlemaps. But should you use theater of the mind or a battlemap? Is one better than the other? Really it's a personal preference with a lot of other factors in play as well. We're here to give you the pros and cons of using a battlemap for D&D, Pathfinder 2e or other similar TTRPGs, or going pure theater of the mind! Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

As we slowly inch to the end of our D&D 5e home game, there have been a lot of thoughts and ideas floating around on things to be know and be aware of before ending a D&D 5e or a PF2e campaign, or really, any TTRPG campaign! There are always big plot threads to tie up, but also fun and impactful epilogues, side quests, and possible one shots to wrap up small things months later!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

The new D&D 5e Adventure based on the world of Critical Role helmed Matthew Mercer released on March 15th and we’ve been slowly digesting it. There is some wonderful content in here even if you don’t decide to run the entire adventure. Join us for our Call of the Netherdeep review and we’ll let you know if we think it is worth a buy!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dungeoncrawlnetworkOur links & Discord - https://linktr.ee/dungeoncrawlpod     Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.comAdditional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and SynrinscapeMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show