Dueling GMs by Epic Blunders

Learn how to kill your level 1 PC by celebrating, how to get infinite AC, and the lost art of Bardic Horsecasting in today's edition of Dueling GMs.

We finally return with a full episode of Dueling GMs and have we got a doozy for you. Today we dive deep into the differences between RAW (Rules as Written), RAI (Rules as Intended) and the Rule of Cool in your TTRPGs. Which do you prefer? When is it important to lean into one over the other? And most importantly, when reading the rules as written, how many things are just plain busted in D&D 5e? Find out now!

What does a Man-Beast hybrid Wizard/Bladesinger have in common with a Drunken Aviator Monk/Cleric? Find out in today's episode of Dueling GM's: Twisted Builds. This week we wanted to focus on making the most mobile characters we could, and it was intriguing to see the different directions we took to get there.

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a TTRPG character build for your DnD 5e games. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All of Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items are allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

Today we're joined by some extra special guests. Many of the contributors to the new hit Dungeons & Dragons 5e supplement, Baba Lysaga's Nocturnes & Nightmares are on the show discussing what it was like to bring such a big project together, how collaboration really makes for incredible projects and final products, and the soft skills needed to work in a collaborative space. The book is just a little over a week old and has already hit Silver Best Seller on DM's Guild, where it can be found for sale.

Listen in and find out if collaboration might be just the ticket to get your feet wet on content creation. Or perhaps you're an industry veteran but have always flown solo projects. Perhaps this will be exactly what you need to encourage you to branch out, tap a few friends, and do a collab yourself.

Welcome back, dear listeners! We have another solo episode today. If you're curious about the direction of tabletop gaming, and wondering what all the newer announcements regarding your favorite TTRPG might mean for the hobby, we've got you covered. Hear what we know to be true, focus down on what we believe is happening, and take a long look into the not-so-distant future of Dungeons and Dragons.

Dueling GMs is taking a long rest! This week, Anthony has a conversation with himself about how to create a campaign where the players provide the backdrop for your world and your plot. It's a way to drive engagement to the next level while also limiting the excess planning many DMs feel they need when preparing for their tabletop roleplaying sessions.

Take a listen and maybe give it a try sometime. We'll be back at it in full force very soon.

This week's build concept was all about having an Intelligence-centric Melee Combatant. On two opposite ends of the spectrum, we present a classically trained Dual-Wielding Elven Wizard who's nearly impossible to hit and Dwarven Tinker who uses science to put casters to shame and misfortune.

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop  RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted   Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items are allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

Finally, at long last, we get you to the episode that tells you why we are called the Dueling GMs! This week we talk about the benefits of Cooperative Game Masters (or Dungeon Masters). We teach you some of the ways we've learned to break down responsibilities and share roles so that everyone can maximize fun, surprise, and speed up your process as well. Plus, two heads are always better than one when prepping between sessions! All of this and more- take a listen and see how your TTRPG tables can benefit. Take a chance. Roll the dice.

This week we're back at it with a full conversation certain to improve your time at your TTRPG table- especially for those of you using VTTs! What happens when it feels like the players are losing interest in what's going on? Who's to blame? And how does the group as a whole right the ship? (Hint: this isn't just the responsibility of the DM!)

We talk causes, solutions, and ways to prevent the issue in your future D&D or other tabletop games. Also, meet the newest member of the team!

This week's twist is all about Avoiding Hits and Damage.  We took up the challenge to see how far we could push our Armor Class (AC) and soak up damage being dished out. Our offerings include a Hulkbuster Artificer (who taunts people to hit him and laughs as they can't) and a Cleric/Wizard combo (that absorbs damage inflicted on itself and allies while using its actions to keep people at full health).

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted   Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items are allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

This week's twist is all about Fear. We have a Paladin of Conquest who paralyzes his foes in fright and a multiclass Monk who can lock down the battlefield by sight, sound, and more! What's more frightening than that? Find out in this episode!

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted  Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.  
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.  
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.  
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.  
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.  
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.   
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items allowed.   
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.  
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!   
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

This week we started with the twist- Heavy reliance on cold/ice damage. We present a Barbarian Warlock that dishes retaliation damage in chunks and a chaotic Sorcerer Warlock who snipes unseen!

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

This week's challenge was to craft an elemental build using no Fire or Cold. It became a musical theme as Joseph offers a "Rock & Roll" Earth Genasi Druid and Anthony counters with an "Imagine Dragons" guardian that brings both the Lightning and the Thunder.

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

This week- A triple-class combo called the Bloody Artillerist and a Warlock Crossbowman with only a +2 CHA!

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

Old school TTRPG players reminisce about the days of hardcore alignment restrictions. Not only did it provide a list of do's and don'ts, but it explained why certain characters had access to spells, items, and classes that others did not. In more recent editions of games, alignment has become more of a legacy feature that you can take or leave as you please.

Today, we talk through the black, white, and large spectrums of gray present in modern-day alignment understanding. Does it serve any purpose at all? Is it a system of morality, personality, or both? And is it possible to play an "evil" character without the underlying assumption that you're a murderous psychopath? If so, what does that look like? All of this and more on this episode!

The ol' Railroading GM gets a bad rap in tabletop gaming. And perhaps rightly so. But what if I told you that every game with a planned story arc has rails?

Learn the sliding scale of 4 different ways to run your games, from Hard Rails to Soft Rails and Choose Your Own Adventure to Sandboxes. Pick up on the pitfalls and player perspectives on each. And discover how to turn each of them into versatile tools for your GM toolbox. All on today's episode!

So many DMs/GMs in their #ttrpg games have long struggled to balance their desire to plan ahead and the lack of time to do so. Sometimes, we even have the time, but writer's block or procrastination make it nearly impossible to get ideas on paper. What is a good Game Master to do? This week, we look at some pros and cons of planned and improv sessions. We give some of our own ideas on our preferences and how we implement them in our own games. And we offer tips for when each may be used best to your advantage.

This week- A Warlock who can't use Eldritch Blast and a Warlock who has to take CON as a dump stat!

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!  The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

Well, it had to happen sometime. We found an episode we recorded and forgot to publish!

Non-Player Characters are vital in your TTRPGs. But how do you keep it fresh and fun? Is there some way to make some things a little squishier and others much more hulked out? Absolutely! In today's episode, we outline 6 different types of NPCs: Mobs, Monsters, Champions, Nemesis, Legends, and Deities. We talk about what to change, what to leave out, and the important steps in creating each type. We also offer advice on how to keep the mechanics from bogging down along the way. This discussion is helpful whether you play D&D, Pathfinder, Vampire, or any of the great indie tabletop games out there.

Everyone's got a unique idea and cool plan for optimizing a tabletop RPG character build. But what if your parameters were a bit askew? Or what if you wanted to semi-optimize, but flavor it around a specific roleplay concept? Well friends, look no further! We give you "Twisted Builds"! What are Twisted Builds, you ask? We set up 10 simple rules to follow. Listen in on any Twisted Builds episode and get some interesting ideas for new characters down the road. Or, write in and tell us how we did it all wrong!

The rules are simple.

1. Establish a Theme. Declare a Concept. Impose a Twist.
2. All characters are level 10 using Point-Buy.
3. All races and classes are acceptable without explanation.
4. All Tasha’s Optional Rules can be used.
5. No Homebrew unless it’s semi-official on DnDBeyond.
6. Multiclassing is allowed but must follow requirements for Ability Scores.
7. No magic items unless the class somehow grants them. Any mundane items allowed.
8. All Subclasses can only ever be used up to a total of 10 levels. We want to showcase different builds.
9. Established setting will be within the world we’ve been creating in other Workshops. We’ll continue adding things to the world in future episodes!
10. These builds are purely for fun and quirky concepts. They may be somewhat optimized, but no guarantees.

Welcome to our new show, Dueling GMs! We're offering tips, tricks, and years of experience to improve your play sessions and GM styles. Some episodes will focus on the structure in which you play. Others may provide insight into the mechanics of your games.  

In episode 7, we put those goals and ideals for the perfect NPC to the test and turn one of the Monster Manual's most gooey creatures into... a nemesis? A swarm? And... a deity? What were we thinking? Tune in and find out! Please like us and leave a review on any of your favorite podcasting platforms. And let us know what you want to hear about! We'll tackle nearly any subject you can think of that's tabletop-related.

Welcome to Dueling GMs! Every week, we're offering insight into how to improve your tabletop play sessions and GM styles.  Some episodes will focus on the structure in which you play. Others may provide insight into the mechanics of your roleplaying games. All of it with the hope that every player and Game Master at every table has more fun!

This week is the culmination of our first mini-series. We're capping it off with a workshop that brings in a few friends to test what we've already discussed. We go through Session 0, Session 0.5, Character Creation, and start off on our first sample adventure.

Starting a new tabletop roleplaying campaign is really hard sometimes. And that's not just for DnD. New setting ideas, story hooks, building  characters that are naturally cohesive- it can seem daunting. Not to mention the amount of time and energy it seems to require on the part of both the DMs and players.  

Well, allow us to blow some of those myths out of the water. Maybe you struggle with getting your PCs integrated in those first few sessions.  Maybe character creation takes forever. Maybe as a DM, you feel like if you don't have months of prep work done or entire adventure modules  ready, you're not able to start. Watch and listen as we start a new low-level adventure with virtually no prep- including by the DM. I let the players help build out the world and introduce vital NPC connections and names. Their backstories and connections provide more than enough plot hooks for months to come. All it takes is a few starting parameters...  

Actual play D&D 5e homebrew campaign in the Critical Role world of Wildemount. Utilizing DnDBeyond's Avrae bot for Discord and TaleSpire 3d digital mapping.

Feeling pulled in so many directions with hints of dire consequences at every turn, Nona, Awna, Whisky, Link, Ryohn, Picks, Willam, and Grolyd  struggle with the question of how to prioritize and desperately want to be in two places at once.

Leave a comment and tell us what you think about the campaign so far!

Into the heart of the mesa we go, cautiously curious for clues and cultists, but under no circumstances considering common sense amidst the crystals.

The party goes bounding headlong into an... ahem, large-scaled skirmish in the courtyard of (what they believe to be) the Prince of Dragons.  Things get a little rough and there's a struggle at the fence-line.  

When we're short a few players, we like to run "extended one-shots".  Those who are available have mercenaries floating about Wildemount and  their goings-on directly affects what happens to the regular campaign  crew and the information they uncover.  This week, a bridge gets a little crowded, wyrmlings get a little caustic, and things go boom.  

When we're short a few players, we like to run "extended one-shots".  Those who are available have mercenaries floating about Wildemount and  their goings-on directly affects what happens to the regular campaign crew and the information they uncover. 

This week, our mercenary crew picks up from the exciting events the last time. Following the instructions from their patron, Dahon, to pursue any leads regarding Dragon Cults in the area, the mercs head toward a  mountain gorge rumored to have an old structure built into it...  

This week contains a jaunty little march, a hauntingly beautiful interlude, a somber familial ballad, and concludes with a chill dance number that's bound to get everyone's toes tapping. All this and more with Awna, Picks, Ryohn, Link, Whisky, Grolyd, Willam, and Nona in the village of Wrathfell! 

The party continues their long trek northward toward the Many Hosts of Igrathad. Along the way, an old memory is revealed and an old enemy is  named.  

A series of nights on the road provide time for fortune-telling, introspection, and cosmic revelations. Ryohn also turns over a new leaf.
**Disclaimer: We lost a bit of the audio recording at times this week. We did our best to piece things back together but if there's a conversation that seems disjointed- don't worry, we know it skipped a bit! Sorry and hopefully we'll be back on track next week!**

Without a specific plan in mind, but knowing they've completed all they intended to do in Xarzith Kitril (and then some), the party continues  traveling north, knowing there's quite a bit to accomplish in that general direction. Trying their best to stay focused, they're soon drawn in to yet another distraction.  

What do you do when you have a token to get you to the super secret smith in town? Go shopping! Plus, where do this group of nobodies intend to go next? And a sobering realization sets in...

Immediately following the exciting climax of last episode, there is a chilly standoff between two members of the party. Is there any chance of resolution after what's been revealed?  

Episodes 7 and 8 of Lost Requiem refer to a key story in a book the party found. Wondering what that story actually says? Never fear! Hear the tale in its entirety now!

Facing a strange crystalline structure and frigid temperatures, the party discovers the missing miners, a headache or two, and a secret long forgotten.

No rest for the weary as a bone-chilling howl echoes through camp. Does the party have enough left in them to survive the ambush? 

This week we press further north into the Dreemoth Ravine, wary of stirges. Is that all they find lurking in the canyon walls?

This week, our intrepid band of nobodies ventures out a little further beyond the walls of Xarzith Kitril but hopes to return in time for The Challenge.

When we're short a few players, we like to run "extended one-shots". Those who are available have mercenaries floating about Wildemount and their goings-on directly affects what happens to the regular campaign crew and the information they uncover. This week, jump in as the mercs assault a camp looking for their comrades who were whisked away by a mysterious shadow dragon.

This week, land is sighted, a challenge is set forth, and Picks learns that sometimes less is more.

We're back for Episode 3! The party gets set upon by giant crustaceans, gets impaled by darts while solving a riddle, and finds more than they bargained for.

Join our streamed adventure through Matt Mercer's beautiful Wildemount setting. The story takes place in the years between Campaign 1 and Campaign 2 of Critical Role's adventures. Some of the events of CR occurring before, during, or after our tale may pop up from time to time as a fun easter egg, but our stories are our own and we hope you enjoy!

If you like us, give it a subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends!

We've made it to week 2! The crew discovers a number of ways to traverse a submerged cavern without getting wet and learns the true nature of the entity lurking at the back of the Path of the Whirlpool.

Join our streamed adventure through Matt Mercer's beautiful Wildemount setting. The story takes place in the years between Campaign 1 and Campaign 2 of Critical Role's adventures. Some of the events of CR occurring before, during, or after our tale may pop up from time to time as a fun easter egg, but our stories are our own and we hope you enjoy!

If you like us, give it a subscribe and tell your friends!