by The 3 Wise DMs
3 Wise DMs is a podcast for dungeon masters (for Dungeons & Dragons) and game masters (any other RPG) with problems. And when we say problems, we don’t mean the kind of things you find answers for in the gamebooks. Think of it as a gaming philosophy show with a strong emphasis on applied knowledge. We all want to be great DMs, so what do we do to try to get there?
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/20/2020
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April 20, 2025
<p>Cobbler’s tools. Weaver’s tools. Glassblowing. There are a host of proficiencies that are part of building a character in D&D that seem strange at first for someone who is going out on adventures. For a lot of players, it just becomes something that you picked during character creation. We’ve come to call these the “orphan” proficiencies.</p><p>In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down to discuss how they utilize these proficiencies in games, and even if you should, or if you just pass over these proficiencies and get to killing orcs.</p><p>3:00 The finite resources that are proficiencies, do you want to use one to be a good leather worker?</p><p><br></p><p>6:35 Delving into the use of the orphaned proficiencies really depends on the type of game you’re running and who’s playing.</p><p><br></p><p>11:55 You need to allow the space for these types of skills and proficiencies to come into play – it can’t be a race against the ending of the world.</p><p><br></p><p>13:05 Approaching it in terms of Peter Parker and Spider-Man… you’ve gotta pay the rent!</p><p><br></p><p>14:40 The effectiveness of certain artisan and craft tools over others: would you prefer weavers’ tools or thieves’ tools?</p><p><br></p><p>16:55 5e, specifically, has a lot of mechanics to handle most things in game. But these types of proficiencies are more narrative-focused, so don’t be so slavish to the rules and mechanics.</p><p><br></p><p>19:40 The players invested some level of thought into these proficiencies… lean into them.</p><p><br></p><p>27:00 DM Chris develops the first Skateboarding Fighter.</p><p><br></p><p>28:00 To shine the light on these proficiencies, you have to put some thought into building it into the campaign.</p><p><br></p><p>32:45 It doesn’t matter how dexterous or intelligent I am… I can’t just play a guitar when I pick it up for the first time.</p><p><br></p><p>39:05 Final Thoughts.</p>
April 6, 2025
<p>Multiple times a week. Once a week. Every other week. Once a month. Once every several months. We’ve referenced how frequency of play can really alter how you run the game, how the story flows, etc. But, our longtime listener, Dr. DM, has brought up how real life has really gotten in the way of scheduling their usually weekly games and how it has affected his confidence with running the game.</p><p>In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down to really delve deep into how frequency of play affects how you run the game, and even what type of game you run. Along the way, they offer their eight best tips and hacks to help whenever life alters your gaming schedule.</p><p>1:45 Our long-time listener (and now co-DM!) Dr. DM, catches us up on his seafaring campaign we discussed in <a href="https://3wisedms.com/shipping-up-to-boston-uncovering-the-secrets-to-running-an-epic-pirate-dd-campaign/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">episode 148</a>, as well as his question.</p><p>5:56 Frequency of play is going to change how you might want to play with certain aspects of the game, like how long it took for DM Tony’s legendary Barbarian to read the Manual of Gainful Exercise.</p><p><br></p><p>7:45 Tip#1: If you’ve got the time between sessions, use it to focus on your players goals.</p><p><br></p><p>10:05 Tip #2: What is your usual frequency of play? If you start monthly, it won’t be as jarring if you’re used to playing weekly, and now it’s a month.</p><p><br></p><p>11:35 Tip #3: Try to end your session on a completed note. And, if you can’t, the beginning recap is your best friend.</p><p><br></p><p>12:35 Tip #4: Be big and bold with your secrets, clues, and rumors when weeks have passed since your last game – No Sublety!</p><p><br></p><p>14:15 We return to DM Tony’s Barbarian, Hawk, and his quest to forge the Sword of Power in a once-a-month “Race Against Time” type of game.</p><p><br></p><p>17:10 Tip #5: If you’re worried that the time between games is letting your DM skills get rusty, start another game to keep “riding the bike.”</p><p><br></p><p>19:35 Tip #6: Giving something like a quest to forge a legendary sword needs to be given its due, regardless of your frequency of play. <a href="https://3wisedms.com/signed-sealed-delivered-revolutionize-your-dd-games-with-digital-tools/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Narrative side quests</a> and LOTRs mechanic of “The Fellowship Phase” offer some options.</p><p>30:30 DM Dave’s tangent about a possible Star Wars campaign utilizing the West End d6 system.</p><p><br></p><p>31:35 Tip #7: Game flow and frequency of play is going to change depending on how new or experienced your players are.</p><p><br></p><p>33:25 Tip #8: How long should it take your players to accomplish things? As long as it needs to in your game and your frequency of</p><p>play. DM Tony shares the story of DM Dave’s dragonborn cleric, Bhim, trying to gain proficiency in the longsword.</p><p><br></p><p>37:50 Final Thoughts.</p>
March 23, 2025
<p>It’s apropos that our first-ever players review of a campaign was for <a href="https://3wisedms.com/the-players-review-of-storm-kings-thunder-the-whole-party-spills-the-tea-on-tonys-version-of-skt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DM Tony’s Storm King’s Thunder campaign</a>, as our newest iteration has us returning to the frozen world of the original giants in Mana Project Studios <a href="https://3wisedms.com/tag/journeytoragnarok/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Journey to Ragnarok!</a> We bring on return guests <a href="https://3wisedms.com/terrain-maps-minis-oh-my-the-long-tradition-of-using-terrain-and-minis-in-dd-to-enhance-your-game/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scott (the Terrain Wrangler)</a>, <a href="https://3wisedms.com/tag/mental-health/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bonnie (the Chaos Engine) </a>and our newest player to join the group, Jen (the Girlfriend!)</p><p>In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down with the other three players to review a campaign that had several adjustments made over the course of it – refining it from a completely open-world sandbox-style campaign to a Monster-of-the-Week style. </p><p>DMs always have to be adjusting dials, so listen in as we discuss how DM Tony had to adjust for vastly different play types to still create a fun and engaging campaign. DM Chris stated it best: “TTRPGs aren’t reliant on lore, backstory, and epic narratives… sometimes its just about getting together and having fun as a group.”</p><p>2:25 Player and character introductions.</p><p>7:20 Setting the characters in the world: Origins and Viking Clans!</p><p><br></p><p>18:35 How much backstory is enough or is it even required? </p><p><br></p><p>19:45 The real time adjustment to how you run the game with various types of gamers.</p><p><br></p><p>27:30 Refining a multitude of adventures, political brinksmanship, and storylines down to a Monster-of-the-Week tour of the Nine Realms.</p><p><br></p><p>29:20 How new and inexperienced players can help us evolve our DM style.</p><p><br></p><p>36:00 The players experience between two completely separate campaigns: completely open world and Monster-of-the-Week within the same campaign.</p><p><br></p><p>41:40 Forest for the trees: Seeing a character’s story arc in the macro.</p><p><br></p><p>44:47 Final Thoughts.</p>
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