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The Lazy RPG Talk Show and the Lazy GM Prep show. D&D news, commentary, spotlights, Q&A, and lazy GM prep with Mike Shea of Sly Flourish.
Episodes
18 minutes ago
18 minutes ago
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
5 days ago
5 days ago
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00:00 Show Start
- 00:01:12 Sly Flourish News: Crap in my Tackle Box, Timing Sessions
- 00:03:38 D&D & RPG News:Traveller Bundle of Holding
- 00:06:13 D&D & RPG News: Tales of the Valiant Bundle of Holding
- 00:09:05 D&D & RPG News: Panhandle PBS on RPG Culture
- 00:10:46 D&D & RPG News: Vote on Anticipated RPGs of 2026
- 00:13:33 Commentary: Save Dungeontube!
- 00:25:52 DM Tip: Modifying Published Adventures
- 00:56:23 Patreon Question: Character Motivations for New Players
- 01:00:10 Patreon Question: Hurrying and Speeding Up Players
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Crap I Keep in my Tackle Box
- Tips and Tools for Timing Sessions
- Traveller Bundle of Holding
- Tales of the Valiant Bundle of Holding
- RPG Documentary from Panhandle PBS
- RPG Documentary Trailer from Panhandle PBS
- Vote for your most anticipated RPG of 2026
- RPG Blogs
7 days ago
7 days ago
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Dec 15, 2025
Monday Dec 15, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00:00 Show Start
- 00:00:59 Sly Flourish News: Last Days of Sly Flourish Book Sale!
- 00:03:48 Sly Flourish News: Adventure Prompts, Crap in my Tackle Box
- 00:06:24 D&D & RPG News: JP Coovert Gift Guide
- 00:07:51 Kickstarter Spotlight: Crack the Sun for Draw Steel
- 00:11:50 Product Spotlight: Dread Dungeonomicon by Raging Swan
- 00:16:54 D&D & RPG News: D&D Beyond Developer AMA
- 00:31:42 D&D & RPG News: 5.2.1 SRD Released in Four Languages
- 00:36:52 DM Tip: Prep Through Villains
- 00:50:53 Patreon Question: Convincing Players to Play Folk-Heroic RPGs
- 00:57:49 Patreon Question: Players Drawing Maps on GM Descriptions
- 01:00:25 Patreon Question: GM Notes and Campaign Continuity and Consistency
Links
- Last days Sly Flourish Book Sale!
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Seek Adventure Prompts
- Crap I Keep in my Tackle Box
- JP Coovert’s Gift Guide of Indie RPGs
- Crack the Sun Crowdfunding Campaign
- Dread Dungeononomicon
- D&D Beyond Producer Post
- D&D Beyond Producer AMA
- Maps Updates and Feedback Post
- 5.2.1 SRD in Five Languages
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00:00 Show Start
- 00:00:59 Sly Flourish News: 20% Off Books and Free Shipping in US and UK on $50 or More
- 00:02:30 Sly Flourish News: Running Scarlet Minotaur, Seek Adventure Prompts, Monastery of Astarion
- 00:05:42 Sly Flourish News: Mike on the Games with Dave Stream
- 00:06:29 D&D & RPG News: Forge of the Artificer Articles on EN World
- 00:09:39 D&D & RPG News: EN World 2026 Anticipated RPG Nominations
- 00:16:14 Commentary: A Tale of Two Session Zeros
- 00:50:54 DM Tip: Campaign Prep Part 2 – Post Session Zero
- 01:03:02 Patreon Question: Types of Secrets
Links
- A20% off Sly Flourish Books with Free Shipping in US and UK for $50 or More
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Running Shadowdark's Scarlet Minotaur as a One-Shot Game
- Seek Adventure Prompts
- Appearance on Games with Dave
- Forge of the Artificer first impressions on EN World
- Forge of the Artificer Deep Dive on EN World
- EN World’s Most Anticipated RPGs of 2026 Nominations
- Dragonbane Cheat Sheet
- Types of Secrets
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Dec 01, 2025
Monday Dec 01, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00:00 Show Start
- 00:00:43 Sly Flourish News: Sly Flourish Books 20% off with Free Shipping
- 00:02:11 Sly Flourish News: Favorite 2025 Products, Running Shadowdark's Scarlet Minotaur, Patron Obsidian Vaults
- 00:05:16 Kickstarter Spotlight: Beast RPG for 5e
- 00:09:08 D&D & RPG News: Shadowrun 5e Bundle of Holding
- 00:12:09 D&D & RPG News: Dyson Commerical Maps of 2025
- 00:13:43 Commentary: RPGs of 2026
- 00:30:48 DM Tip: Prepping New Campaigns
- 00:46:48 Patreon Question: Roll Dice in the Open
- 00:49:24 Patreon Question: Is Shadowdark Still the Best D&D Starter Set?
- 00:53:02 Patreon Question: Improvising Failing Forward
- 00:57:26 Patreon Question: Trends in RPGs Post OGL
- 01:01:53 Patreon Question: Playing RPGs is Boring
Links
- A20% off Sly Flourish Books with Free Shipping!
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Favorite RPG Products of 2025
- Running Shadowdark's Scarlet Minotaur as a One-Shot
- Beast Kickstarter
- Shadowrun Bundle of Holding 5e Essentials
- Universe Mega
- Dyson 2024 Commercial Map Pack
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00:00 Show Start
- 00:01:03 Sly Flourish News: When to Cheat at RPGs, 2025 Favorite RPG Products, Finished Two Campaigns, Next Campaigns
- 00:06:25 Sly Flourish News: Apperance on Solo RPG Podcast
- 00:07:20 Kickstarter Spotlight: Temple of the Lightbringers by MT Black
- 00:09:22 D&D & RPG News: Pax Unplugged, Lots of Daggerheart, Nothing for D&D
- 00:18:33 Commentary: Favorite RPG Products of 2025
- 00:32:51 Patreon Spotlight: Dwarven Forge VTT Backdrops
- 00:35:52 DM Tip: Run Great Campaign Endings
- 00:50:21 Patreon Question: Running Cohesive Campaigns
- 00:54:07 Patreon Question: Why Are the Eight Steps In Their Current Order?
- 01:00:09 Patreon Question: Factions in a Homebrew Setting
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- When and How to Cheat when Running RPGs
- Favorite RPG Products of 2025
- Temple of the Lightbringers Kickstarter
- Daggerheart Announcements at PAX Unplugged
- Dragonbane Core Set
- Tales of the Valiant Game Master's Guide
- Daggerheart Core Set
- Chessex 24" Battle Mat
- Staedtler 315-9 Medium Point Wet Erase Marker (Black)
- Ending Campaigns
Friday Nov 21, 2025
Friday Nov 21, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 01:04 Sly Flourish News: Mash Up the Eight Steps, How to Cheat at RPGs, Dread Necropolis,
- 03:47 Sly Flourish News: New RPGs Hitting My Desk
- 10:17 D&D & RPG News: Fantasy Grounds Free to Play and Online Compendium
- 13:20 D&D & RPG News: D&D Nexus on Demiplane
- 17:10 Commentary: Is Locally Owned Software Important?
- 23:57 D&D & RPG News: Apocalypse World Burned Over AMA on Reddit
- 24:56 Commentary: What Is the OSR?
- 50:38 DM Tip: Pre-Game Rituals
- 57:42 Patreon Question: Generating Random Adventures
- 01:02:26 Patreon Question: Stranger Things D&D Box To Bring In New Players
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Mashing Up the Eight Steps
- When and How to Cheat when Running RPGs
- Fantasy Grounds Free with Online Web Viewer
- New D&D Nexus on Demiplane
- Vincent Baker AMA on Apocalypse World Burned Over
- Using REAL CULT TACTICS to improve your D&D group
Friday Nov 14, 2025
Friday Nov 14, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Nov 10, 2025
Monday Nov 10, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 00:01:08 Sly Flourish News: Alternative Initiative Options, Mashing Up the Eight Steps
- 00:02:49 Patreon Spotlight: Dread Necropolis Adventure Scenario
- 00:05:06 Sly Flourish News: Upcoming Games
- 00:09:29 D&D & RPG News: Kobold Press Book Bundle
- 00:13:06 Kickstarter Spotlight: Drakkenheim Daggerheart Campaign Book
- 00:18:02 Kickstarter Spotlight: Apocalypse World Burned Over
- 00:23:45 D&D & RPG News: Meg and Vincent Baker and Jonathan Harper Podcast with Ben Riggs
- 00:25:02 D&D & RPG News: Shannon Appleclein on Mastering Dungeons
- 00:28:09 D&D & RPG News: WOTC Brings Back Educational Resources for D&D
- 00:32:20 D&D & RPG News: New One Ring Adventures
- 00:34:38 DM Tip: Experiences with Dreadful Blessings
- 00:55:46 Patreon Question: Building Characters for One-on-One RPGs
- 00:58:31 Patreon Question: Motivations for Cultists
- 01:01:44 Patreon Question: Dealing and Facilitating Table Talk
- 01:03:59 Patreon Question: Tuning Bosses in Shadowdark
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Three Alternative Initiative Options
- Mashing Up the Eight Steps
- Huge Kobold Press Bundle
- Drakkenheart Kickstarter
- Apocalypse World Burned Over Kickstarter
- Meg and Vincent Baker and Jonathan Harper on Reading D&D Aloud
- Designers and Dragons Crowdfunding Campaign still going on
- D&D After School Programs
- Hasbro Educational Resources
- New One Ring and Lord of the Rings 5e Adventure Books
- Dreadful Blessings
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Monday Nov 03, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 00:38 Sly Flourish News: Improv vs. Prep, Three Initiative Options
- 02:12 Patreon Spotlight: Dyson Commercial Maps Gallary
- 05:15 Sly Flourish News: Halloween Shadowdark Ravenloft Game
- 08:47 Sly Flourish News: Appearance on EN World
- 09:32 Commentary: Evil Hat Games and EPUB for Accessibility
- 13:44 Commentary: What Is the Lazy RPG Talk Show?
- 26:36 Product Spotlight: Forgotten Realms Heroes and Adventures of Faerun
- 49:29 Patreon Question: Improvising Map Annotations and Details
- 54:15 Patreon Question: Connecting with Another Player's Character
- 56:15 Patreon Question: How do you Review the Characters?
Links
Friday Oct 31, 2025
Friday Oct 31, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Oct 27, 2025
Monday Oct 27, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 01:01 Sly Flourish News: Gamehole Panels, Ravenloft with Shadowdark, Models Fuel Creativity, Prep Versus Improv
- 05:42 D&D & RPG News: StartPlaying.Games RPG Mental Health Survey
- 11:23 D&D & RPG News: Rob Weiland Passes Away
- 13:11 D&D & RPG News: Asmodee Takes Control of Lord of the Rings Tabletop License
- 16:56 D&D & RPG News: 30% Off Chaosium Products on DTRPG
- 17:50 Kickstarter Spotlight: Origins 4-Volume D&D Product History by Evil Hat
- 19:45 D&D & RPG News: Glass Cannon Liveplay using Shadowdark and Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
- 20:33 D&D & RPG News: D&D 3D VTT Project Sigil Officially Ends
- 29:48 Product Spotlight: Phantasy Star RPG
- 37:23 Commentary: Experiences at Gamehole Con 2025
- 54:15 Patreon Spotlight: Crypts of Karigulon Updates
- 59:02 Patreon Question: Friend Doesn't Want My AI / LLM Generated Campaign
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Running Ravenloft with Shadowdark
- Frameworks Fuel Creativity
- Improv Versus Prep
- TTRPG Mental Health Survey on StartPlaying.Games
- Rob Weiland Passed Away
- Asmodee takes over LOTR RPG rights
- Chaosium sale on DTRPG
- Designers and Dragons crowdfunding campaign
- Glass Cannon Liveplay mentions Lazy DM
- Project Sigil D&D 3D VTT is No More
- Phantasy Star RPG
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Mike Shea, David Christ, and Allan Patrick share our best GM tips and discuss with the audience at our Gamehole Con panel recorded on 18 October 2025
Links
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
A recording of the "Beautiful Mess of 5e" Gamehole Con seminar recorded on 15 October 2025 with Teos Abadia, Shawn Merwin, Mike Mearls, and Mike Shea.
Links
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Monday Oct 13, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 00:45 Sly Flourish News: Tab Your Books, Ravenloft with Shadowdark, Gamehole Con
- 04:01 Patreon Spotlight: 5e Artisanal Database Combat Tracker
- 10:43 Kickstarter Spotlight: Allies and Enemies for Shadowdark
- 12:26 Kickstarter Spotlight: Hall of Horrors for Daggerheart, Candela Obscura, and 5e
- 14:49 Sly Flourish News: Partnering with Let's Quest
- 16:49 Commentary: Back Up Your Digital RPG Stuff
- 34:25 DM Tip: The Value of Adventure Types
- 43:14 Patreon Question: Advanced Traps in 5e
- 48:18 Patreon Question: Keeping Multiple RPG Rulesets In Our Heads
- 53:10 Patreon Question: Homebrewing Adventures As Good As Published Adventures
Links
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Oct 06, 2025
Monday Oct 06, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 00:58 Sly Flourish News: Take it Easy, Tab Your Books, Gamehole Con, PAGE 3
- 04:55 Kickstarter Spotlight: Hexploration Decks by Inkwell Ideas
- 06:51 D&D & RPG News: Better Accessibiliy for PDFs
- 11:15 D&D & RPG News: How to Make an RPG Book
- 12:34 Product Spotlight: The Land of Eem
- 33:10 Commentary: Great 3rd Edition Forgotten Realms Products
- 48:23 DM Tip: The Simplest Quest Model
- 55:03 Patreon Question: Preparing to Improvise
- 58:40 Patreon Question: Handling Monsters who Give Up or Run
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Last Week's Article: Go Easy On Yourself
- Next Week's Article: Tab Your Books
- Going to be at Gamehole Con
- Going to be at PAGE3
- Hexploration Decks Expanded
- How to make an RPG book Part 1
- How to make an RPG book Part 2
- Land of Eem Quickstart
- Land of Eem Core Rule Book
- Land of Eem Boxed Set
- Forgotten Realms 3rd Edition Campaign Sourcebook
- Waterdeep City of Splendors
- Lost Empires of Faerun
- Unapproachable East
- Shining South
- Mysteries of the Moonsea
- Serpent Kingdoms
- Lords of Darkness
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Sep 29, 2025
Monday Sep 29, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00:00 Show Start
- 00:00:50 Sly Flourish News: Use Agnostic Tools, Go Easy On Yourself, Vathrex Unchained
- 00:03:16 D&D & RPG News: Shadow of the Weird Wizard Bundle of Holding
- 00:07:05 Product Spotlight: Mythic Game Master Emulator for Solo RPGs
- 00:12:49 D&D & RPG News: How Many D&D Products Are There?
- 00:16:28 D&D & RPG News: Critical Role Interview on Dungeon Craft
- 00:37:47 DM Tip: What's Your Villain's Backup Plan?
- 00:52:34 Patreon Question: Share DCs and ACs?
- 00:57:09 Patreon Question: Worth Running Other RPGs?
- 01:04:13 Patreon Question: Starter Sets for Experienced Groups?
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Use Agnostic Tools
- Go Easy On Yourself
- Shadow of the Weird Wizard
- How to Find and Read Blogs
- Mythic Game Master Emulator Free guidelines
- Mythic Game Master Emulator One Pager
- Mythic Game Master Emulator Second Edition
- How Much D&D Stuff Is There?
- Critical Role interview with Professor Dungeon Master
Villainous Backup Plans
- Makes a pact with a devil
- Sacrifices themselves
- Sacrifices their followers
- Sacrifices something they love
- Finds another key
- Conducts a life stealing ritual
- Makes a deal with a rival
- Digs everywhere
- Goes after something the characters love
- Allies with a more powerful being
- Creates a fake key
- Moves at a faster pace
- Takes a big risk
- Digs a new entrance
- Attempts to destroy the thing
- Seeks an alternative route
- Goes after an alternative artifact
- Infiltrates through a parallel world
- Sends in an army
- Seeks the Forbidden Way
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 00:59 Sly Flourish News: Published Adventures, Use Agnostic Tools, Vathrix Unchained
- 04:28 Sly Flourish News: Lazy DM's Workbook in NY Magazine
- 05:42 D&D & RPG News: Justice Arman on Mastering Dungeons
- 07:35 D&D & RPG News: D&D Starter Set Ad and Liveplay
- 11:25 Commentary: Is WOTC Being a Good Steward of the RPG Hobby?
- 38:59 Commentary: Dragonbane Feedback
- 52:08 Patreon Question: Running Paper Character Sheets
- 55:44 Patreon Question: Magic Item Attunement Criteria
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Lazy DM's Workbook in New York Magazine
- Justice Arman on Mastering Dungeons
- D&D Starter Set Ad
- D&D Starter Set Liveplay with Stinky Dragon Podcast folks
- New URL for D&D School Program pages
- Sly Flourish Sponsorship page
- D&D Beyond Isn't a Fair Platform for Customers or Publishers
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Mike offers his first look at the new D&D Starter Set – Heroes of the Borderlands.
- Visit the Sly Flourish Blog
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Podcast
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
- 00:00 Show Start
- 00:39 Sly Flourish News: Lazy Map Annotations, Are Published Adventures Easier?, the Beautiful Mess of 5e
- 05:35 Sly Flourish News: Attention Retailers
- 07:08 D&D & RPG News: Starter Set Spotlights
- 09:13 Product Spotlight: Dragonbane Core Boxed Set
- 40:18 DM Tip: The Value of Solo Play
- 46:12 Patreon Question: Preparing Dungeons
- 51:28 Patreon Question: Colonialism and Looting Treasure
- 01:00:49 Patreon Question: Running 90 Minute Games
Links
- Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
- Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
- Buy Sly Flourish Books:
- Lazy Map Annotation
- Are Published Adventures Easier to Run?
- Gamehole Con
- Alphastream Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set - Components and Characters Review
- Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set - What Adventures are Like
- Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Borderlands - First Impressions
- Dragonbane Boxed Set
- Ironsworn RPG
- Solodark for Shadowdark
- Thousand Year Old Vampire