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

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Your Own Prep Framework Lazy Campaign Building Checklist Interview on RPG Drop Dreadful Blessings False Hydra

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Location Moves The Simplest Quest Model Your Own Prep Framework Tales of the Valiant Night Hunters Kickstarter Savage Arctic by Jeff Stevens Kickstarter Dungeon Inc Kickstarter Halls of Arden Vul Bundle of Holding New ICRPG Books ICRPG Video Dungeon Masterpiece on Five Indie RPGs

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Build Single-Encounter Situations Location Moves D&D with Kansas City Chiefs Dolmenwood Welcome to Dolmenwood Dolmenwood Online Rules Reference Dolmenwood Generators Ending Campaigns Making Great Handouts

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: How to Get Your Group to Play Other RPGs The Secret of the Eight Steps of Lazy Game Prep Mashing Up the Eight Steps Build a Campaign-Unique Faction List Shadowdark House Rules Build Characters Quickly in D&D 2024 Lazy Map Annotation Avoid Removing Player Agency Lazy World Building Two Different 5e Games at the Same Table Tim Kask passed away James Haeck joins WOTC as a senior game designer Shannon Appelcline's Year-end Review

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Dreadful Blessings

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Crap I Keep in my Tackle Box Tips and Tools for Timing Sessions Traveller Bundle of Holding Tales of the Valiant Bundle of Holding RPG Documentary from Panhandle PBS RPG Documentary Trailer from Panhandle PBS Vote for your most anticipated RPG of 2026 RPG Blogs

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 Last days Sly Flourish Book Sale! Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Seek Adventure Prompts Crap I Keep in my Tackle Box JP Coovert’s Gift Guide of Indie RPGs Crack the Sun Crowdfunding Campaign Dread Dungeononomicon D&D Beyond Producer Post D&D Beyond Producer AMA Maps Updates and Feedback Post 5.2.1 SRD in Five Languages

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 A20% off Sly Flourish Books with Free Shipping in US and UK for $50 or More Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Running Shadowdark's Scarlet Minotaur as a One-Shot Game Seek Adventure Prompts Appearance on Games with Dave Forge of the Artificer first impressions on EN World Forge of the Artificer Deep Dive on EN World EN World’s Most Anticipated RPGs of 2026 Nominations Dragonbane Cheat Sheet Types of Secrets

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign. 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 Midgard Worldbook Tales of the Valiant Obsidian for TTRPGs

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 A20% off Sly Flourish Books with Free Shipping! Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Favorite RPG Products of 2025 Running Shadowdark's Scarlet Minotaur as a One-Shot Beast Kickstarter Shadowrun Bundle of Holding 5e Essentials Universe Mega Dyson 2024 Commercial Map Pack

Show 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 Dragonbane Core Set

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: When and How to Cheat when Running RPGs Favorite RPG Products of 2025 Temple of the Lightbringers Kickstarter Daggerheart Announcements at PAX Unplugged Dragonbane Core Set Tales of the Valiant Game Master's Guide Daggerheart Core Set Chessex 24" Battle Mat Staedtler 315-9 Medium Point Wet Erase Marker (Black) Ending Campaigns