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 00:00:43 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

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Running Ravenloft with Shadowdark Frameworks Fuel Creativity Improv Versus Prep TTRPG Mental Health Survey on StartPlaying.Games Rob Weiland Passed Away Asmodee takes over LOTR RPG rights Chaosium sale on DTRPG Designers and Dragons crowdfunding campaign Glass Cannon Liveplay mentions Lazy DM Project Sigil D&D 3D VTT is No More Phantasy Star RPG

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

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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books  

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 00:45 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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Tab Your Books Running Ravenloft with Shadowdark Allies and Enemies for Shadowdark Kickstarter Hall of Horrors: Bestiary for Daggerheart, D&D 5E, and CO Let's Quest Adventure Types: Dungeon Crawls

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 00:58 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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Last Week's Article: Go Easy On Yourself Next Week's Article: Tab Your Books Going to be at Gamehole Con Going to be at PAGE3 Hexploration Decks Expanded How to make an RPG book Part 1 How to make an RPG book Part 2 Land of Eem Quickstart Land of Eem Core Rule Book Land of Eem Boxed Set Forgotten Realms 3rd Edition Campaign Sourcebook Waterdeep City of Splendors Lost Empires of Faerun Unapproachable East Shining South Mysteries of the Moonsea Serpent Kingdoms Lords of Darkness

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 00:00:50 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 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Use Agnostic Tools Go Easy On Yourself Shadow of the Weird Wizard How to Find and Read Blogs Mythic Game Master Emulator Free guidelines Mythic Game Master Emulator One Pager Mythic Game Master Emulator Second Edition How Much D&D Stuff Is There? Critical Role interview with Professor Dungeon Master 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

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