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

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

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 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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Mashing Up the Eight Steps When and How to Cheat when Running RPGs Fantasy Grounds Free with Online Web Viewer New D&D Nexus on Demiplane Vincent Baker AMA on Apocalypse World Burned Over Using REAL CULT TACTICS to improve your D&D group

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 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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Three Alternative Initiative Options Mashing Up the Eight Steps Huge Kobold Press Bundle Drakkenheart Kickstarter Apocalypse World Burned Over Kickstarter Meg and Vincent Baker and Jonathan Harper on Reading D&D Aloud Designers and Dragons Crowdfunding Campaign still going on D&D After School Programs Hasbro Educational Resources New One Ring and Lord of the Rings 5e Adventure 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 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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Morrus's Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk with Mike

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