DM Tips for Less Stress

Chat TPK is back with brand-new episodes! Future pods will be released each month, so join us for D&D debates, tabletop topics, and mild humour.Today’s topic: DM tips for less stress. We discuss different approaches to prep, useful resources, what’s worth worrying about at the table—and what really isn’t—in order to make running games more enjoyable and avoid DM burnout.This episode was recorded in January 2026.

On this week's Chat TPK, we’re cracking open the creative toybox and building our very own D&D one-shot adventure from the ground up. From brainstorming wild ideas to structuring scenes, encounters, and twists—we’re showing you how to craft a killer session in a single sitting through the power of improv!Mike, Martyn, and Rick are joined by special guest Judah from One Shot D&D, who brings his storytelling expertise (and a few chaotic ideas) to the table. Whether you’re a first-time DM or a seasoned world-builder, this episode is packed with tips, laughs, and plenty of inspiration for your next one-shot.One Shot D&D - https://www.instagram.com/oneshotdnd/

THIS EPISODE IS NSFW - The party begin their dangerous ascent up Shatterpeak - before things get out of hand!Join us every fortnight as we follow the tales of Arden, Scamar, Enid and Juno on their search for Redemption!Come join is on Instagram & Discord and support us on our Patreon -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/Chat_TPK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find their character sheets below -Arden - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136293084/bW5z64⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scamar - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123990906/DFj083⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enid - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136273320/QgJNLs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Juno - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136525324/9dFf93⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you to Roll & Play Press for allowing us to use One-Shot Wonders within our adventure!Character Art: @scatterbrainsketches Music: Uppbeat & Travis Savoie

Chat TPK X One Shot DNDJoin Mike, Martyn, Rick, and special guest Judah as they take a deep dive into the art of crafting the perfect one-shot! Whether you’re a seasoned DM or just rolling initiative for the first time, this episode explores everything from traps and NPCs to loot and fights - you don't want to miss this!Also, which spell will be released from our vault of incantations of today's Spell Spotlight?One-Shot DND - https://www.instagram.com/oneshotdnd/Spell Spotlight - Misty Step https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/2619133-misty-stepThe Master's Vault - https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/module/40/the-masters-vaultDM's Secret Weapon Magazine - https://www.patreon.com/dndshortsFOLLOW US FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK!

Listen as the party explores the mysteries and delights of Dusk Hollow!Join us every fortnight as we follow the tales of Arden, Scamar, Enid and Juno on their search for Redemption!Come join is on Instagram & Discord and support us on our Patreon -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/Chat_TPK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find their character sheets below -Arden - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136293084/bW5z64⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scamar - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123990906/DFj083⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enid - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136273320/QgJNLs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Juno - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136525324/9dFf93⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you to Roll & Play Press for allowing us to use One-Shot Wonders within our adventure!Character Art: @scatterbrainsketches Music: Uppbeat & Travis Savoie

It's time for more mythical monster lore as Rick & Martyn give you the low-down on the underdark urchin, the Kuo-Toa! Tune in for weekly tabletop topics!Find all the links to our socials and community here - ⁠https://linktr.ee/Chat_TPK⁠Kuo-Toa Info & Pictures - https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Kuo-toa

The Second Deed has begun! Join the party as they continue their quest for redemption in the snowy, secluded village of Duskvale - in the hopes of scratching another misdeed off their long list.Listen every fortnight as we follow the tales of Arden, Scamar, Enid and Juno on their search for Redemption!Come join is on Instagram & Discord and support us on our Patreon -⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/Chat_TPK⁠⁠⁠⁠Find their character sheets below -Arden - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136293084/bW5z64⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scamar - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123990906/DFj083⁠⁠⁠⁠Enid - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136273320/QgJNLs⁠⁠⁠⁠Juno - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136525324/9dFf93⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you to Roll & Play Press for allowing us to use One-Shot Wonders within our adventure!Character Art: @scatterbrainsketches Music: Uppbeat & Travis Savoie

Enjoy this bonus episode of Chat TPK as we discus dragons for this year's Monster Week! Listen as Mike, Martyn and Rick delve into detail about their favourite dragons from D&D!Dragons:- Hollow Dragon (https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/2059747-hollow-dragon)- Solar Dragon (https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/2821148-ancient-solar-dragon)- Red Dragon (https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/5194887-ancient-red-dragon)Music by Francis Bonin Music

Join us for another edition of Behind the Board - the series that let's us talk to tabletop gaming creators!Listen to Mike, Gee and Mitchell and George, from Three Sails Studios, as they discuss the exciting new exploration TTRPG, Mappa Mundi!Find Mappa Mundi and Three Sails Studios's other projects at - ⁠https://www.threesailsstudios.com/⁠Check out all our guests on Instagram below:- Gee (⁠https://www.instagram.com/ttrp.gee/⁠)- Mitchell (⁠https://www.instagram.com/good.game.fair.play/⁠)Follow us for weekly tabletop content!

The party's first quest draws to a close - but will it be an outcome that pleases everyone? A choice must be made. Yet shall freedom be given?Listen every fortnight as we follow the tales of Arden, Scamar, Enid and Juno on their search for Redemption!Come join is on Instagram & Discord and support us on our Patreon -⁠⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/Chat_TPK⁠⁠⁠Find their character sheets below -Arden - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136293084/bW5z64⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scamar - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123990906/DFj083⁠⁠⁠Enid - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136273320/QgJNLs⁠⁠⁠Juno - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/136525324/9dFf93⁠⁠⁠Thank you to Roll & Play Press for allowing us to use One-Shot Wonders within our adventure!Character Art: @scatterbrainsketches Music: Uppbeat & Travis Savoie