The Dm's Deep Dive With Mike Shea

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com Contents 00:00 Show Start 00:33 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, Updated Obsidian Notes, COA Shipping in Europe, Lazy DM's Companion in EPUB and Markdown 08:04 D&D & RPG News: Old School Essentials Bundle of Holding 11:14 Kickstarter Spotlight: Blades in the Dark Deep Cuts 13:52 D&D & RPG News: Daggerheart Released 27:42 DM Tip: Mashing Up the Eight Steps 48:04 Commentary: Too Much Linking In Markdown Notes 49:57 Patreon Question: Rolling 3d6 For Ability Scores 53:34 Patreon Question: Low Level Characters with Powerful Legacy Magic Items 57:11 Patreon Question: Building Rich Tactical Battles in Old School Adventures Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Your Criteria for Selecting Great Published Adventures Leave Blanks Old School Essentials Bundle of Holding Blades in the Dark Deep Cuts Backerkit Campaign Dice Exploder Interview with Jonathan Harper o

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 01:08 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, Key of Worlds Scenario 10, COA Shipping News 06:25 D&D & RPG News: Raging Swan Bundle of Holding 09:14 Kickstarter Spotlight: Neon City Outlaws by Rodney Thompson 12:17 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 5.2 SRD Available in Markdown 16:51 D&D & RPG News: Patchwork Paladin on Lord of the Rings 5e Dissecting and Piecing Together 5e 21:11 Commentary: Gary Gygax's 25 Year D&D Predictions from 1999 35:41 Commentary: 25 Years of WOTC Making Fun of It's Own Products 39:46 Commentary: AI GMing Taken to the Logical Conclusion - Just Run the Whole Game For Us 42:22 DM Tip: Lightning Rods for Each 5e Class Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Raging Swan Bundle of Holding Neon City Outlaws D&D 2024 5.2 SRD in Markdown Pulling Apart D&D 5e – Patchwork Paladin Lightning Rods – Showcase

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 00:55 Sly Flourish News: New Articles, COA Fulfillment, Artisanal Monster Database Updates 11:06 Commentary: Experiences Running Three 5e Systems in the Same Game 28:26 Commentary: Managing Character Options At Our Table 45:34 DM Tip: How to Run Stealth and Hiding in 5e 59:16 Patreon Question: The Intimacy and Focus of One-on-One Games Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Two-Word Cure All to Overpowered Characters Break and Prevent the Boredom Spiral Running One-on-One Games A Framework for One-on-One D&D Games: Sherlock Holmes and Watson

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 00:39 Sly Flourish News: Grendleroot for $5 02:56 Sly Flourish News: TOV Article, Patreon Benefits, New GM Card, COA Updates, Shadowdark Scenario 10:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Fury of the Forsaken by Lazy Wolf Studios 12:27 D&D & RPG News: Huge Pathfinder 2 Humble Bundle 15:49 D&D & RPG News: Sage Advice Column on D&D Beyond 19:58 Commentary: Paizo Flip Mat Basic Versus Chessex Battle Map 38:46 Patreon Question: Lazy Encounter Benchmark and Waves of Combatants 44:55 Patreon Question: Leveling Up Villains with Forge of Foes 47:34 Patreon Question: Managing Real-World Time In-Game 52:00 Patreon Question: Character Motivation in Shadowdark with high PC Turnover 58:06 Patreon Question: Managing Monster Difficulty in D20 / 5e Games Links Grendleroot On Sale for $5! Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Gems of the Tales of the Valiant

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: Ruins of the Grendleroot On Sale 04:42 Sly Flourish News: 5e Artisanal Monster Database Updated with D&D 2025 MM Monsters 07:42 Sly Flourish News: New Articles and Podcasts 10:04 Kickstarter Spotlight: Knock Issue 5 from Merry Mushman 13:17 D&D & RPG News: 5.2 SRD Released into the Creative Commons 22:07 Commentary: What can GM's Do with the 5.2 SRD? 27:40 Commentary: A Look at Mike's Little Candles -- Is WOTC Being a Good Steward of the Hobby? 45:36 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 Errata 49:34 DM Tip: Using Physical Book At the Table Links Ruins of the Grendleroot On Sale for $5 Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Knock Kickstarter 5.2 SRD Page 5.2 SRD PDF D&D 2024 PHB Errata D&D 2024 DMG Errata D&D 2024 MM Errata

Mike builds an adventure from one of the adventure prompts in the City of Arches! Buy the City of Aches

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com Contents 00:00 Show Start 01:01 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches, Latest SF articles and podcasts, new CC material 12:15 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 5.2 System Reference Document on Tuesday 15:09 Commentary: Why the 5.2 SRD Matters to GMs 20:25 Commentary: Do we Need a 5.2 SRD in the OGL? No! 24:52 Commentary: How to Play D&D 6E Today! 31:49 DM Tip: Get Your Players to Play Other Systems 39:47 Patreon Question: Getting Players to Search More 44:56 Patreon Question: Grim Portents and Focusing On Your Next Game 49:04 Patreon Question: Revealing Secrets Through Sages 51:22 Patreon Question: What Sections Are Missing From Most GM Books? Monuments Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: City of Arches D&D 2024 5.2 SRD Coming Tuesday 13th Age Shadow of the Weird Wizard Numenera Dusk City Outlaws Lazy GM's Resource Document

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 00:01:25 D&D & RPG News: Jeremy Crawford Leaves Wizards of the Coast 00:07:31 D&D & RPG News: State of the OSR Podcast 00:09:42 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Available in Hardcover in US and Canada 00:11:35 Sly Flourish News: SF Books for Friendly Local Game Shops through ACD 00:12:42 DM Tip: Running the D&D 2025 Monster Manual Beholder 00:24:25 Commentary: How do RPGs Die? 00:46:02 D&D & RPG News: One-on-One Adventures in Dragon Delves 00:49:42 DM Tip: Running One-on-One Games 00:54:52 Patreon Question: The Lazy GM Eight Steps on Index Cards 00:58:19 Patreon Question: Encounter Building for Three Characters 01:01:58 Patreon Question: Are 5e Systems Compatible and Which Would I Choose if I Had to Pick One? Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Jeremy Crawford Leaves WOTC State of the OSR Gencon Panel Podcast Ci

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 00:01:26 Kickstarter Spotlight: Scepter of the Lightbringer 00:04:57 D&D & RPG News: Chris Perkins Leaves Wizards of the Coast 00:09:26 D&D & RPG News: Tariffs and TTRPGs 00:15:15 Commentary: BG3, Stardew Valley, and Thoughts About Copyright 00:30:18 D&D & RPG News: Level Up Gateway for Level Up Advanced 5e and the Current State of 5e Character Builders 00:36:24 DM Tip: Build a D&D 2024 Character On Paper in Ten Minutes 00:44:56 Patreon Question: Managing Perception and Passive Perception 00:50:08 Patreon Question: Describing Terrain Mechanics in Combat Encounters 00:54:14 Patreon Question: Managing Boring but Effective Character Strateies 00:58:43 Patreon Question: Introducing Old Monsters as New Monsters 01:01:46 Patreon Question: How Long to Get a Feel for a New RPG? Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Scepter

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 01:17 Kickstarter Spotlight: Free5e 07:24 Kickstarter Spotlight: Alien RPG Evolved Edition 09:23 D&D & RPG News: New Miniatures for Sigil? Where's my Gold Dragon Docker?? 14:01 D&D & RPG News: D&D 2024 5.2 System Reference Document Coming "Soon" 19:14 Commentary: Memoirs of a Dracolich 28:35 DM Tip: Slow, Medium, and Fast Initiative 32:03 Patreon Question: Promote Better Behavior for Online Play 35:56 Patreon Question: Choose Your Gamemaster's Guide 39:29 Patreon Question: Incentivizing Movement for Ranged Attackers 43:49 Patreon Question: Stealth and Hiding in D&D 2024 50:46 Patreon Question: Forge of Foes for Shadowdark? 52:18 Patreon Question: Lazy Encounter Benchmark for Tales of the Valiant Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Free5e Kickstarter Alien RPG Evolved Kickstarter D&D Mimic Miniature for Sigil 5.2

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com Contents 00:00:00 Show Start 00:01:09 D&D & RPG News: Delta Green, Dragonlance, and Kobold Press Humble Bundles 00:05:22 Kickstarter Spotlight: Zaminora Ballad of the Witch 00:06:48 D&D & RPG News: Sigil's Demise 00:13:46 Commentary: Where's the 5.2 SRD? 00:16:40 Commentary: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Initial Thoughts 00:36:04 DM Tip: Defending Yourself Out of the Fun 00:57:03 Patreon Question: Catching Characters Up to Higher Level Adventures 00:59:23 Patreon Question: Running Heroic Adventures with Shadowdark 01:01:33 Patreon Question: Which Monster Book Do You Reach For? 01:05:19 Patreon Question: Experiences with Level Up Advanced 5e Links Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Delta Green Humble Bundle Dragonlance Novel Humble Bundle Kobold Press 5e Player Option Humble Bundle Zamanora Ballad of the Witch Kickstarter Has Wizards of the Coast Given Up on

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 01:06 Kickstarter Spotlight: Beyond the Woods 03:53 Kickstarter Spotlight: Shadowdark Western Reaches 15:25 Commentary: Shadowdark Price Ranges and FOMO 22:53 Commentary: Where Shadowdark Sits Among 5e Games 32:18 DM Tip: House Rules for Shadowdark 38:45 Sly Flourish News: City of Arches Hardcovers and the Key of Worlds Scenario Path 44:54 Sly Flourish News: Additions to the Lazy GM's Reference Document 49:49 Sly Flourish News: Forge of Foes on Audible 50:58 Patreon Question: Alternatives to Cultists 55:04 Patreon Question: Suggestions for Short Adventures and One-Shot Rewards Links Forge of Foes on Audible Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter Support Sly Flourish on Patreon Buy Sly Flourish Books: Beyond the Woods Kickstarter Shadowdark Western Reaches Kickstarter Shadowdark Quick Start Free PDF Shadowdark Quick Start Softcover City of Arches Lazy GM's Reference Document