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masteringdnd.bsky.social
Mastering Dungeons
@masteringdnd.bsky.social
1.4K followers 3 following 310 posts
RPG veterans and game designers Teos Abadia and Shawn Merwin look at the game and the hobby of D&D from a variety of viewpoints.
🎤 https://masteringdungeons.podbean.com/
📺 https://youtube.com/@masteringdungeons
🥰 https://www.patreon.com/MasteringDnD
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
evilhat.bsky.social
Terrific in-depth discussion here with @shannonappelcline.bsky.social on @masteringdnd.bsky.social. Not just about Designers & Dragons: Origins but also covering Shannon's early career in gaming and how he got started documenting the history of TTRPGs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6v...
Shannon Appelcline and Designers & Dragons Origins! (MD 265)
YouTube video by Mastering Dungeons
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
shannonappelcline.bsky.social
I was thrilled to talk with Teos and Shawn at @masteringdnd.bsky.social this week. We talked about Designers & Dragons: Origins, of course, but dug into some nice history too: Greyhawk's dungeons, Jack Fred, Palace of the Silver Princess! (The show is nicely indexed, so you can hear what you want!)
Shannon Appelcline and Designers & Dragons Origins! (MD 265)
YouTube video by Mastering Dungeons
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
alphastream.bsky.social
If you love RPGs, don’t miss this show looking at the astounding history of our hobby!
masteringdnd.bsky.social Mastering Dungeons @masteringdnd.bsky.social · 6d
Shannon Appelcline and Designers & Dragons Origins!

Renowned RPG historian Shannon Appelcline discusses his new 4-book series capturing the amazing stories behind every OD&D, AD&D, and Basic product!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6v...
#DnD #TTRPG
Shannon Appelcline speaks with Teos and Shawn. below them can be seen the covers of all four of the new Designers & Dragons Origins books.
November 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Shannon Appelcline and Designers & Dragons Origins!

Renowned RPG historian Shannon Appelcline discusses his new 4-book series capturing the amazing stories behind every OD&D, AD&D, and Basic product!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6v...
#DnD #TTRPG
Shannon Appelcline speaks with Teos and Shawn. below them can be seen the covers of all four of the new Designers & Dragons Origins books.
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News: New Daggerheart folio, Tales of Woodcreek starts with a bang, Free FR preview, WotC is hiring, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuU3...
#DnD #TTRPG
An image of DM Deborah Ann Woll is superimposed between a smiling Shawn and Teos. She has a hand raised upward dramatically, lit from below.
November 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
katiethefae.bsky.social
The moment not 1 but 3 of my players wanted to use one of the downtime projects as a jumping off point for learning about their mysterious backstories, I was hooked as a Director.
masteringdnd.bsky.social Mastering Dungeons @masteringdnd.bsky.social · 13d
Draw Steel – Resting and Downtime!

Draw Steel has a unique and deliberate approach to resting. Respites become a key element, bridging combat recovery with larger campaign and personal goals.

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oQp...
#DnD #TTRPG
Teos holds up the Draw Steel book and Shawn reacts with interest, while an image of a young wizard practicing alchemy is superimposed between them.
November 1, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
griffinmuffin.bsky.social
Hell yeah. I'm keen to hear this one. Downtime in Draw Steel is done so well.
masteringdnd.bsky.social Mastering Dungeons @masteringdnd.bsky.social · 13d
Draw Steel – Resting and Downtime!

Draw Steel has a unique and deliberate approach to resting. Respites become a key element, bridging combat recovery with larger campaign and personal goals.

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oQp...
#DnD #TTRPG
Teos holds up the Draw Steel book and Shawn reacts with interest, while an image of a young wizard practicing alchemy is superimposed between them.
October 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
joeauerbach.bsky.social
I really think that the respite system is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the game.

But in the long run it's going to be huge.
October 29, 2025 at 11:54 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Draw Steel – Resting and Downtime!

Draw Steel has a unique and deliberate approach to resting. Respites become a key element, bridging combat recovery with larger campaign and personal goals.

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oQp...
#DnD #TTRPG
Teos holds up the Draw Steel book and Shawn reacts with interest, while an image of a young wizard practicing alchemy is superimposed between them.
October 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News: Hasbro KPop Demon roleplay? Hasbro Q3 results! Dragonlance TV show? Sigil to be turned off, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_t...
#DnD #TTRPG
Teos shows Shawn his Gamehole con badge with a Flumph Phanatic banner, while an image of one of the KPop Demon Hunters is superimposed between them.
October 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Live from Gamehole Con - Complexity in RPGs!

We discuss complexity with our live audience!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

youtube.com/@masteringdu...
#DnD #TTRPG #Daggerheart #DrawSteel
The left side is a picture of Jeff Mueller's Shadowdark session, with minis on a hand-drawn battlemap. On the right is Jeremy Crawford, speaking over a Daggerheart DM screen and colorful paper terrain.
October 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News, Live from Gamehole:

Asmodee controls Lord of the Rings, Circle Magic, Biggest industry surprise, New Kobold Hires, plus audience questions!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzx0...
#DnD #TTRPG
Teos and Shawn speaking at Gamehole Con during the Mastering Dungeons panel. Picture taken by Lou Anders of Lazy Wolf Studios https://www.lazywolfstudios.com/
October 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Draw Steel Combat Encounters!

Teos and Shawn examine how the Draw Steel RPG handles player turns, including forced movement, damage, and dying!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mkg...
#DnD #TTRPG #DrawSteel
A Draw Steel Warrior struggles against goblins swarming him. Shawn and Teos are smiling.
October 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News: D&D Hellfire at Target, Free Daggerheart Roll20 Quickstart, Drakkenheim for Daggeheart, Our Approach to Learn New RPGs, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLDG...
#DnD #TTRPG #Daggerheart #StrangerThings
An image from the Stranger Things boxed set, depicting Eddie DMing and a die being cast, is superimposed between Shawn and Teos.
October 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
thewelshdm.bsky.social
I am a little behind @masteringdnd.bsky.social podcast, but @shawnmerwin.bsky.social's breakdown of narrative mechanics in RPGs their purpose, and who they serve in last weeks episode is genuinely something everyone should listen to.

open.spotify.com/episode/7BfR...
Draw Steel - Kits and Complications! (MD 260)
open.spotify.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
runicpressgames.com
Excited for the shout out at the end. Everyone check out Mastering Dungeons! Two industry vets who know their stuff.
masteringdnd.bsky.social Mastering Dungeons @masteringdnd.bsky.social · Oct 1
News: Salvatore May Retire Drizzt, Lorwyn Digital-Only D&D Setting, Cosmere New Releases, Do elaborate mechanics create narrative, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHsl...
#DnD #TTRPG
Shawn and Teos discuss the upcoming Lorwyn setting for D&D. An image of the digital-only release covers, including Lorwyn First Light, is superimposed.
October 2, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
thevervettrpg.bsky.social
Saw this on @masteringdnd.bsky.social and knew it was immediately something I would be into, I have my own plans for something like this specifically for the Verve 👀

Really excited to find out what @runicpressgames.com have put together here!
October 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Draw Steel Combat Basics!

Teos and Shawn examine how Draw Steel creates tactical, cinematic, and heroic play with its combat system!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlrI...
#DnD #TTRPG #DrawSteel
An image from Draw Steel of a female warrior in red, gold, and black armor is superimposed between Shawn and Teos. The warrior is holding her sword forward and shouting a challenge.
October 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News: New D&D Video Game Studio, Demogorgon Crunch, Kickstarter’s Union, Designing for Someone Else's IP, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTl0...
#DnD #TTRPG
Shawn and Teos have big smiles as the discuss the limited edition Kelloggs cereal, Demogorgon Crunch. A box of the Stranger Things cereal is superimposed between them.
October 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Draw Steel Kits and Complications!

Teos and Shawn finish creating their characters, reviewing the cool rules for Kits, how Complications wildly spice up a game, and Perks!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxSk...
#DnD #TTRPG #DrawSteel
Teos holds up copies of the two Draw Steel books. Shawn has made an "oooh" expression and is pointing at the books.
October 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News: Salvatore May Retire Drizzt, Lorwyn Digital-Only D&D Setting, Cosmere New Releases, Do elaborate mechanics create narrative, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHsl...
#DnD #TTRPG
Shawn and Teos discuss the upcoming Lorwyn setting for D&D. An image of the digital-only release covers, including Lorwyn First Light, is superimposed.
October 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Draw Steel Character Classes, Careers, and Cultures!

We create two characters, reviewing how Draw Steel creates engagement through complex classes, careers, and create-your-own cultures!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRC8...
#DnD #TTRPG #DrawSteel
Shawn appears to be licking his pen, while Teos laughs. Superimposed between them is a horned troubadour from Draw Steel, rocking out on a guitar.
September 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
News: Daggerheart Void Update, Diamond Selling Disputed Stock, Baldur’s Gate Jam, D&D Has a Lot of Stuff, and more!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyb3...
#DnD #TTRPG #DrawSteel
Shawn and Teos have funny faces normally, but particularly in this image as they discuss Daggerheart. The words The Void and the Daggerheart symbol are superimposed between them.
September 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Mastering Dungeons
alessandrorosaphd.bsky.social
Anyone that didn't get to see the live event on D&D Discord with @justiceraminarman.bsky.social can watch this Mastering Dungeons episode to get all of the best highlights.

Not discussed: Physical copies of Heroes of the Borderland have sold out on D&D Beyond! Restocking soon, but amazing!
September 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
masteringdnd.bsky.social
Inside Heroes of the Borderlands: Justice Arman on creating D&D’s new starter set!

The fascinating project to create a new starter set updating the famed module B2, The Keep on the Borderlands!

Listen or watch:
masteringdungeons.podbean.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKZP...
#DnD #TTRPG
Justice Arman, Shawn Merwin, and Teos Abadia are all laughing as they discuss a design topic. An image of the new Heroes of the Borderlands box is superimposed between Justice and Shawn.
September 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM