Game Master's Journey

Game Master's Journey


Latest Episodes

Star Trek Adventures: the Good, the Bad & the Ugly | GMJ 286
December 08, 2020

Lex explores the Star Trek Adventures RPG. Although this is a game with a lot of flaws, there are some cool ideas and innovations you can apply to any roleplaying game.

Reflecting Diverse Cultures in Your World & Creating a World Your Players are Invested In | GMJ 285
November 17, 2020

In this worldbuilding episode, Lex explores how to created a world your players are invested in and how to increase player interest in the setting. Lex discusses how to use player ideas and PC backsto

Worldbuilding for Small-Scale Stories & Using Cliches | GMJ 284
November 03, 2020

Lex returns to Game Master's Journey to discuss worldbuilding. In the first of a two episode series, Lex talks about how to use cliches in your game. He then talks about how to approach worldbuilding

All Good Things... | DMJ 283
July 29, 2020

In the season 14 finale episode, Lex revisits his discussion of degrees of failure, success at a cost and player agency. He also talks about some of his favorite aspects from some 5e settings (and a non-D&D setting) that you might want to use in your own

PC Races & Subraces, Reskinning Classes, Mining from Previous Editions, Beyond Pass/Fail & Player Agency | DMJ 282
July 21, 2020

Lex discusses reskinning or redesigning a class that doesn’t fit your campaign instead of removing it. Just as the classes available to play in a campaign set the tone & flavor for the campaign, so too can you achieve a specific goal through the PC races

Removing Classes from the PHB - Feedback | DMJ 281
June 30, 2020

For many DMs the default assumption is that all the player character options in the Player’s Handbook should be allowed in their game. However, one of the best things you can do to improve the flavor & focus of your D&D campaign just might be to cut some

Maybe You DON'T Want to Use Everything in the Player's Handbook | DMJ 280
June 26, 2020

For many DMs the default assumption is that all the player character options in the Player’s Handbook should be allowed in their game. However, one of the best things you can do to improve the flavor & focus of your D&D campaign just might be to cut some

Campaign Recap: For Whom the Bel Trolls & Where's Wahl, Though? | DMJ 279
April 27, 2020

Lex is joined by Brett & Phoebe, to recap a session of their D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars. This week the PCs make a deal with a devil. This is a homebrewed campaign set in Lex’s D&D world, Primordia, that is currently using elements of the published

Creating a Monster | DMG Chapter 9 | DMJ 278
April 20, 2020

Lex returns to his in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. This week he discusses how to create a full monster stat black. You can use this process to complete a new monster that’s as complete as any monster in the Monster Manual. This builds o

Campaign Recap: Arkhan? No, Ar-CAN'T! & Pit Stop | DMJ 277
April 15, 2020

Lex is joined by two players from his D&D group, Phoebe & Craig, to recap two sessions of their campaign, Blood of the Avatars. This is a homebrewed campaign set in Lex’s D&D world, Primordia, that is currently using elements of the published campaign, De