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A Dungeons & Dragons podcast, where a rotating panel of DM’s provides insight and inspiration for Players and Dungeon Masters.
Episodes
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
This week, we meet the potion merchant in need of help, Zelmar Alviante, the Summer Eladrin, and his gigantic (and tempermental) Iguana named Jim. But the party is still level one, so how much help can they give? Quite a lot, it would seem, as the desert is fraught with dangers, opportunities, and challenges that will make these early levels both fun and memorable.
Takeaways:
- There needs to be a reason why the person/object needs to be escorted
- Escorted NPC's should have stronger personalities than regular NPC's, because the party is far more likely to have multiple interactions with them
- A successfully escorted NPC may be an opening to future quests or a source of information.
- NPC's needing protection are inherently sympathetic.
- Retreading familiar territory should present recognizable - if different - encounters that build off of previous themes or scenarios.
- Escort missions change the game from offense to defense.
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Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
On this week's episode of the It's A Mimic! podcast, Dan takes Adam and Dave through the most brutal of all the 5e official settings: Avernus, the first layer of The Nine Hells. So rev up your engines, and load your pockets with soul coins, because the warlords are calling and Zariel herself is lurking about the River Styx!
From ravenous demon lords to abandoned angelic swords, the discussion in this episode focuses on inspiration to use this setting outside of just the published book, Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus. There is a lot to mull over with planar shenanigans, and it's more than just low-level devils wandering around. Archdevils, corrupted fey, and even mortals walk these dangerous lands, and the front lines of the Blood War looms around every corner...
Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/
Shoutout: Logan Beam and his release "Displaced of a Distant Plane: Fae Migrants" on drivethrurpg.com
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
The party is squishy, but that doesn't mean you can't challenge them. From untrustworthy NPC's to various creatures looking for a meal and an environment that works against you, life beyond the safety of home is fraught with peril. Join Dan and Adam this week as they provide inspiration and insight about how to keep low-level travel both interesting and engaging.
Takeaways:
- The world beyond the city walls should be immediately dangerous.
- Subtly setting themes and ideas early is a good idea.
- Challenge your party, but don't go for the kill at Level One.
- The environment itself can hold dangers and secrets.
- Even seemingly random encounters can provide opportunities for follow-ups and sequels.
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
In this week's episode, the panel of DM's pops the cork, pours some glasses, pulls out the charcuterie platter, and discusses (at length) the only dragon that will kill you by only talking; the Brass Dragon. The It's A Mimic Podcast finally crosses the alignment border into the good-aligned metallic dragons in Dungeons and Dragons 5e, and discusses these ultimate collectors, as well as their lairs, allies, and how to use them in your campaigns as both ally and villains.
On-Air Shoutout: Save For Half Podcast
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Thursday Mar 05, 2020
Thursday Mar 05, 2020
Every campaign begins somewhere, and when the meta discussions are over and Session Zero has come and gone, it's time to roll dice. But is Session One too early to introduce dynamic encounters? Of course not! Dan and Adam each discuss three examples of dynamic encounters for Session One in their own campaign, and demonstrate that more complex encounters can add intrigue and depth, even in the opening moments of a campaign.
Takeaways:
- Quest-givers should be complex characters that can provide multiple emotional reaction early.
- Session One should focus on Exploration and Roleplay, but not ignore other options.
- Setting the tone and establishing a constant enemy early can bring a party together.
- Revealing the quest does not necessarily mean that a quest has begun.
- Allowing your players to explore a hometown in the early stages, can provide insight to the playstyles at the table, and flesh out a map that will matter to them.
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
In this week's episode of the It's A Mimic! podcast, the panel of Dungeon Masters discusses some optional mechanics offered in Dungeons and Dragons 5e and why you should include - or not include - them into your games. Dan, Adam, and Megan take a stab at Honour and reputation, try to wrap their minds around Sanity, and dive into the age-old argument about the right and wrong of alignment.
From a passionate disagreement about Batman, to a few half-baked homebrew twists on some old mechanics, Megan enjoys how she pits the others against each other. You might be surprised to see who prefers which kind of variant rules, and who supports Alignment, while the tear into their own morality, and the debate into cause and effect. So, an all around light-hearted chat.
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Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Wednesday Feb 26, 2020
Wednesday Feb 26, 2020
Dynamic Encounters are encounters that have more than a single action, and add depth beyond normal Dungeons & Dragons scenarios that players have seen before. They provide an infinite number of opportunities for surprises, improv, and creative reactions by players and dungeon masters alike. In this episode, Dan and Adam discuss the following:
Dynamic Encounters:
- combat-to-combat
- combat-to-exploration
- combat-to-roleplaying
- exploration-to-combat
- exploration-to-exploration
- exploration-to-roleplaying
- roleplaying-to-combat
- roleplaying-to-exploration
- roleplaying-to-roleplaying
- skill challenges
- downtime
- party politics
Other Dynamic Encounters:
- tactics (in-combat decisions)
- strategy (out-of-combat decisions)
- planning (meta decisions)
- puzzles (environmental problem-solving)
- riddles (language problem-solving)
Takeaways:
- dynamic encounters take place in a static location, using unexpected problems and stakes to increase engagement, while maintaining the same initiative
- downtime includes quest fulfillment, shopping, crafting, drinking, making money, and building relationships, among other simple character- or world-enhancing options
- action economy and initiative can be equally important tools to have in non-combat encounters
- know who the focus of every encounter is, and give everyone a rewarding turn in the spotlight
- "No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Moltke the Elder, Prussian Field Marshall
- "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything." - Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
This week's episode sees the panel of Dungeon Masters tackle the biggest of Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition's most twisted and deformed arcane mistakes-- I mean, creations; Monstrosities. Starting with the titans that rival the power levels of even gods, Adam, Dan, and Dave take a good hard look into the magical beasts that not even Dan and his ADHD could miss: those gargantuan behemoths that tower above the party in both power level and stature.
Listen in as the DM's dive deep into the depths of the Kraken, climb high the feral peaks of the Tarrasque, and go on a trip to the Astral Plane once more to address the Astral Dreadnaught. Here's hoping all those crazy gods with creature-forges can take a break and hold off from smashing their divine energies together... because these three powerhouses already have enough nastiness to keep us regular mortals in check...
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
Campaign Builder continues building the basic foundation of their campaign, by looking to factions, and creating a guild from the ground up. With a smattering of NPCs and a constant eye on what opportunities may be presented to the party, the Dungeon Masters . Keeping it simple, they lay out a basic breakdown of interesting environments to the North, South, East, and West, as well as important landmarks in each of these directions. And while they discuss the reasons for their decisions, they also make certain to discuss themes, the necessity of variety, and limitations.
Takeaways:
- A starting faction is great tool for hitting the ground running in a new campaign.
- Starting low status with pathetic allies gives the party the opportunity to sympathize early and grow later.
- Strong personalities and simple mission statements keep early sessions clean and to the point.
- Generic NPCs are useful when building early sessions before player characters are fully established.
- Setting up opposing factions will create easy-to-understand conflicts and an early focus for players.
- When creating guilds, think of the emotional reaction you are trying to create in your players.
BONUS: Remember to stay tuned after the credits to hear their original pitches to each other about potential guilds and guid members.
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
In this episode of the It's A Mimic! podcast, the panel of Dungeon Masters returns to Eberron and discusses the newest official Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition class, The Artificer. These crafting, building, attunement-laden heroes add a new aspect of party support, and are even powerful enough to be front and center in most combat encounters.
With Adam on Alchemists, Terry on Artillerists, and Brad on Battle Smiths, the DM's tear into the ins and outs, cautioning new Dungeon Masters and players alike on the dangers of the power creep, and how this class may step on the toes of the more traditional classes. That being said, all three do enjoy this unique and flavourful class, as well as the variety of options that each of the bizarre subclasses has to offer.
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe