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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
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019
In this week’s episode of the It’s A Mimic! podcast, the Dungeon Masters leave combat tactics behind and focus on exploration and why it’s important. The discussion topics that they cover include why exploration is important, description and narration, and engaging players with different exploratory strategies. From mystery and the unknown, to ability checks and skill challenges, the panel covers a series of topics all related to discovering details of the world outside of battle and social encounters!
SUMMARY: Dungeon Masters always spend more time on world building than the players will ever know, but whose fault is it if there’s never any opportunity to explore the world? As the panels of DMs get together this week to discuss the ins and outs of Dungeons and Dragons’ often-ignored pillar of the game, Exploration, they take a look at timing, skills, and the use of maps. Adam focuses on the importance of pacing and his struggles with it, Terry brings up the idea of using a character’s senses to help understand the environment, and Dan opens a huge can of worms about how to use abilities. At the end of the episode, all three Dungeon Masters discuss memorable settings that they’ve experienced, and Terry’s answer will probably shock you!
Shout Outs: All Natural Twenties
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Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
The panel of Dungeon Masters concludes their preliminary look at combat, this time focusing on the tactics of creatures, both intelligent and unintelligent, as well bosses and villains. As they break down different ways that other DM’s may use the same creatures with different motivations, they begin looking at how environments, enemy groupings, and overarching plots can inform the tactics of each bad guy on the battlefield.
SUMMARY: In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the discussion naturally turns to tactics and motivations in combat scenarios. Because that’s how they celebrate love, apparently. From bears and rust monsters to the Big Bad Evil Guys, the panel of Dungeon Masters pull back the curtains to reveal their own tricks and tips for others to use when planning battles and fights. Adam gives a useful breakdown for the intelligence levels of creatures, Terry brings up his preference of having villains with sympathetic motivations and flirting with the grey areas of morality, and Dan breaks apart the idea of knowing which scenario calls for the use of which monster. Whether it’s thinking about the timing of the combat or deciding how memorable you want to make your villains, if you have a question about how to plan a battle, this is the episode you need to hear!
Shout Outs: The Clearcut Crew
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
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Continuing the conversation about combat, the panel of Dungeon Masters expand the discussion to cover more specific tips for DM's. The main talking points in this episode tackle the differences between Theater of the Mind and using Maps and Minis, how to balance combat encounters, and whether or not to help players when things go awry.
SUMMARY: All three DM's weigh in on the pros and cons of the Theater of the Mind style of play, looking at the concepts of player engagement, trust at the table, and cinematic moments in combat. Dan then shifts the topic to cover how to balance encounters and difficulty levels, and the various strengths and techniques of the different dungeon masters begin to reveal themselves. After moving through conversations about battle escalation and session pacing, the group goes off topic to analyze how to give environmental clues and reminisces about previous characters in their campaigns that have died. When the discussion turns to whether or not to help the players, Adam reveals some of his techniques to keep some players alive longer by attacking other things besides their Hit Points, and Terry talks about the most sentimental item he’s ever owned as a player and what happened when it was in danger.
Shout Outs: The Original Die
Available On: iTunes | Spotify | Podbean | YouTube | www.itsamimic.com
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Jan 29, 2019
Tuesday Jan 29, 2019
The dungeon masters tackle the idea of what makes combat fun and interesting, even for players who have played before. Key topics include battle environments, shifting motivations mid-battle, and enemy intelligence.
SUMMARY: As the three DM's discuss what makes combat interesting and fun, they go wildly off topic and prove that the show is truly like finding a mimic in the wild: you never know what’s about to happen or when conflict is going to break out! Terry raises the topic of environment being a defining factor of combat before everyone begins talking tactics and ever-changing enemy goals. After discussing some places to find inspiration for battles, the topic turns to one of the most engaging massive battles that two of the DM's ever experienced! From minions to collapsing ceilings to retreating enemies, the first episode is exploding with ideas and experiences that the dungeon masters can’t wait to pass on to the listeners!
Shout Outs: Dungeon Delver Designs
Available On:
Spotify | Podbean | YouTube | SoundCloud | Other Platforms coming soon!
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: info@itsamimic.com
Intro/Outro Music by: Cory Wiebe
Shout Out Music by: Isaac Callender
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Today’s Episode:
The last and longest episode of the Meet the DMs series focuses on the idea of D&D tropes and what they mean to the different Dungeon Masters. As they move away from 5th Edition, they dissect the pros and cons of regular cliches and touchstone ideas in the Dungeons and Dragons landscape.
Summary:
D&D means different things to different people, and the Dungeon Masters sit down in the last episode of this introductory series to look at what they personally want to see more of, as well as what they feel is tired and needs to stop. Some fantasy cliches go under the microscope, one of the DMs bemoans the monsters he’s never fought, and everyone jumps into the debate about how much retooling the source material is too much. Ultimately, though, everyone agrees on one overall philosophy on storytelling and playing the game as both a Dungeon Master and a Player.
Available On:
PodBean | SoundCloud | YouTube | Google Play | Other listening platforms coming soon!
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: itsamimic@gmail.com
Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Thursday Jan 24, 2019
Thursday Jan 24, 2019
Today’s Episode:
As the conversation moves on to the Dungeon Masters favourite and least favourite spells, they discuss the benefits and flaws of altering the terrain, and some frustrating styles of magic from a DM’s perspective.
Summary:
As the panel moves on to a more magical conversation, Terry and Dan go head-to-head again and Adam drops some knowledge about how to block Scrying as the DMs debate how some players use the spell Darkness, look at the benefits of Hex and Reverse Gravity, and tear into divination magic and the mother of all spells: Wish. With a shout-out to Magic Missile and a brief touch on the challenges with resurrection magic, and some quick brainstorming on alternative means to divination, this episode is packed with wild magic and wilder ideas!
Available On:
PodBean | SoundCloud | YouTube | Google Play | Other listening platforms coming soon!
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: itsamimic@gmail.com
Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Wednesday Jan 23, 2019
Wednesday Jan 23, 2019
Today’s Episode:
It’s madness as the Dungeon Masters continue to discuss their favourite and least favourite aspects of Dungeons and Dragons in part three of the Meet the DM’s series. This time round, it’s Monsters.
Summary:
After a brief explanation of why kobolds are a great addition to the game, things derail quickly as Adam and Terry take on Dan over the mechanics of 5th Edition beholders. The DM’s then move on to briefly discuss evil chromatic dragons and some basic ideas of homebrews, before launching into their least favourite. Two of the three DMs choose to dissect what’s wrong with some of the lawful creatures in the monster manual, with a solid rant in the middle about low-level undead. The general consensus seems to be that flavour and imagination is more important to the panel than mechanics, but there are definitely some sticky subjects!
Available On:
PodBean | SoundCloud | YouTube | Google Play | Other listening platforms coming soon!
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: itsamimic@gmail.com
Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Today’s Episode:
The panel of Dungeon Masters gets together again to explore the concept of character races in 5e. From gnomes to elves, this episode covers the likes and dislikes of the DMs, and spends some time off the rails on the difference between halflings and gnomes.
Summary:
Controversy runs rampant as Adam continues the discussion of favourite and least favourite character choices from the Player’s Handbook, this time focusing on races. After initiative is rolled, Adam touts the benefits of 5e dwarves, Dan surprises everyone by not choosing half-orcs as his favourite, and Terry pitches humans as the best option for a race. But when experience disagrees with the newest DM and the group goes off topic about half-dwarves, things start to heat up. After ripping into elves and even further polarizing choices, the entire episode comes to a head as the three argue about halflings, and make precious little headway in convincing each other.
Available On:
PodBean | SoundCloud | YouTube | Google Play | Other listening platforms coming soon!
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: itsamimic@gmail.com
Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Monday Jan 21, 2019
Monday Jan 21, 2019
Today’s Episode:
As an introduction to both the show and its hosts, all three Dungeon Masters get together to break down their favourite and least favourite classes in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Some of the answers are surprising, even for each other, as they briefly go over both spellcasters and martial warriors that they love and hate. Roll initiative!
Summary:
Adam pitches the idea of introducing themselves, not by giving extensive autobiographies or discussing old campaigns, but by exhibiting their interests in Dungeons and Dragons and talking about their favourite classes. He then proceeds to dote on bards, before Dan declares his love for two polar opposite classes and Terry talks about his love for one kind of spellcaster specifically. It isn’t until the panel starts discussing their least favourites that the different personalities really start to clash. Two of the DM’s can’t seem to agree on which divine magic user is the worst, while another takes potshots at everyone’s favourite rage machine. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Who just can’t stay on topic? This is the first episode in the five-part series that will show you who these Dungeon Masters are and what they’re all about.
Available On:
PodBean | SoundCloud | YouTube | Google Play | Other listening platforms coming soon!
Don’t forget to Like/Follow/Subscribe/Whatever when you listen!
Links: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Email: itsamimic@gmail.com
Music by: Cory Wiebe
Logo by: Kate Skidmore
Saturday Jan 12, 2019
Saturday Jan 12, 2019
We are pretty excited to be releasing this project in the new year, but we wanted to give you all a little gift to enjoy.