Andrew Ashby: World Record Dungeons and Dragons Game, We Geek Together the Tabletop Tavern and the Patterns of Successful DMs

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM, the official podcast of Monsters.Rent

We have an awesome podcast today for you. We were able to sit down and chat with Andrew Ashby, owner of We Geek Together. We Geek Together is a store focused on Tabletop Gaming but themed after a tavern, and it's located in Provo Utah. Last April, Andrew hosted the Dead Wars, which was a 1000+ Player D&D game that broke a world record. Today we talk a lot about Dead Wars but also about some important tips for DMs of all experience levels. Below are a list of questions we had prepared for Andrew, but the conversation was so much better than these questions.

Andrew also started his own podcast as well which you can find on his website.

Show Notes:

Warm up question: what have you been geeking out about recently?

Section 1: Dead Wars

Summary- Talking about orchestrating Dead Wars

Questions:

Where did the idea first begin for you to beat the world record?

What was the session prep like?

What were the biggest hurdles you had to overcome and how did you get past them?

How was finding players and DMs for the event similar to finding players for a normal game? Different?

Would you recommend this style of group D&D play to DMs wanting to get a big group together?

What tips would you give to any DM who wants to put on a multiple group session or event?

Section 2: Running the Tavern

Summary - Talking about setting up a D&D business that is very welcoming of DMs

Questions:

What made you want to start this kind of business?

How did you test and prove your business idea?

What specific goals or values are the focus of WGT?

What would you say is the best part of WGT for DMs, specifically?

How did you figure out what to put in the tavern?

Section 3: Patterns of the Most Successful DMs

Summary - talking about what sets the best DM’s apart

Questions:

What positive patterns do you see in the groups that play the most often?

How do your regular DMs do effective session prep? And how do they create immersion?

What sorts of tools or equipment do your regular DMs use?

What are the most noticeable differences between an engaged table of players, and one that is stalled?

Mentioned in this episode:

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Listen to Our New Podcast

As a listener of this show, you obviously love story. Now that you’ve learned how to craft your own story on this show, wouldn’t it be nice to have some inspiration? Or maybe just a moment of immersion and escape? Then come join us in our new Actual Play D&D 5e show, Pact and Boon. Enter the World of Calignos where our characters, Jolly, Wolfgang and Alon will meet each other in Hell. Enjoy our troublemaking and near-death experiences wherever great podcasts are heard. Just go to session0studios.com/pactnboon and start listening today.