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		<title>Wandering DMs Season 08</title>
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		<description>The Wanderings DMs&#039; original D&amp;D video podcast. With thoughtful discussions, insightful commentary, actual plays, special guests, and more!</description>
		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:48:55 +0000</lastBuildDate>
		<language>en-US</language>
		<copyright>© 2025 Wandering DMs</copyright>
		<itunes:subtitle>Insightful Discussions About Old School D&amp;D and TableTop RPGs</itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:author>Wandering DMs</itunes:author>
		<itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
		<itunes:summary>The Wanderings DMs&#039; original D&amp;D video podcast. With thoughtful discussions, insightful commentary, actual plays, special guests, and more!</itunes:summary>
		<itunes:owner>
			<itunes:name>Wandering DMs</itunes:name>
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				<title>Wandering DMs Season 08</title>
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			<itunes:category text="Games"></itunes:category>
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		<googleplay:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></googleplay:author>
						<googleplay:description>The Wanderings DMs&#039; original D&amp;D video podcast. With thoughtful discussions, insightful commentary, actual plays, special guests, and more!</googleplay:description>
			<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
			<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wdms-season8-cover.png"></googleplay:image>
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<item>
	<title>Purple Worms &#038; Sea Monsters &#124; The Kaiju of D&#038;D &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E08</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/purple-worms-sea-monsters-the-kaiju-of-dd-wandering-dms-s08-e08/</link>
	<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:48:52 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">d3c52dd2-778e-50f2-bdb5-9ea8da0c2899</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Paul &#38; Dan grapple with the biggest of all monsters in original D&#38;D: Purple Worms and Sea Monsters! Why were these beefy guys picked as the apex predators of D&#38;D? What are some alternative ways they could be represented or used in your Dungeons &#38; Dragons games? And what&#8217;s the best response when you find yourself swallowed up Noah-style?]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Paul &#38; Dan grapple with the biggest of all monsters in original D&#38;D: Purple Worms and Sea Monsters! Why were these beefy guys picked as the apex predators of D&#38;D? What are some alternative ways they could be represented or used in your Dungeo]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul &#38; Dan grapple with the biggest of all monsters in original D&#38;D: Purple Worms and Sea Monsters! Why were these beefy guys picked as the apex predators of D&#38;D? What are some alternative ways they could be represented or used in your Dungeons &#38; Dragons games? And what&#8217;s the best response when you find yourself swallowed up Noah-style?]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7908/purple-worms-sea-monsters-the-kaiju-of-dd-wandering-dms-s08-e08.mp3" length="86264278" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Paul &#38; Dan grapple with the biggest of all monsters in original D&#38;D: Purple Worms and Sea Monsters! Why were these beefy guys picked as the apex predators of D&#38;D? What are some alternative ways they could be represented or used in your Dungeons &#38; Dragons games? And what&#8217;s the best response when you find yourself swallowed up Noah-style?]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail-s08e08-1.0.0.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail-s08e08-1.0.0.png</url>
		<title>Purple Worms &#038; Sea Monsters &#124; The Kaiju of D&#038;D &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E08</title>
	</image>
	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>00:59:54</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Paul &#38; Dan grapple with the biggest of all monsters in original D&#38;D: Purple Worms and Sea Monsters! Why were these beefy guys picked as the apex predators of D&#38;D? What are some alternative ways they could be represented or used in your Dungeons &#38; Dragons games? And what&#8217;s the best response when you find yourself swallowed up Noah-style?]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail-s08e08-1.0.0.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Outdoor Adventures in D&#038;D &#124; Hex Crawls, Point Crawls, and Big Journeys &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E07</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/outdoor-adventures-in-dd-hex-crawls-point-crawls-and-big-journeys-wandering-dms-s08-e07/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">18e6dc80-d755-543a-bb2b-d2a52dd3e21a</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul discuss techniques for running tabletop RPG adventures that span large outdoor regions and long journeys. From classic hex crawls and wilderness exploration to point crawls and node-based travel, outdoor campaigns present unique challenges for pacing, mapping, and meaningful player choice across wide geographic areas. How do different RPG traditions handle wilderness adventure? Why did early D&#38;D split dungeon and wilderness play between the Basic and Expert sets? Join us as we explore frameworks for large-scale adventure design, including hex-based exploration, point-crawl structures, and hybrids that combine open wilderness with structured travel routes, plus practical techniques for keeping long overland journeys engaging at the table.]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Dan and Paul discuss techniques for running tabletop RPG adventures that span large outdoor regions and long journeys. From classic hex crawls and wilderness exploration to point crawls and node-based travel, outdoor campaigns present unique challenges f]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Dan and Paul discuss techniques for running tabletop RPG adventures that span large outdoor regions and long journeys. From classic hex crawls and wilderness exploration to point crawls and node-based travel, outdoor campaigns present unique challenges for pacing, mapping, and meaningful player choice across wide geographic areas. How do different RPG traditions handle wilderness adventure? Why did early D&#38;D split dungeon and wilderness play between the Basic and Expert sets? Join us as we explore frameworks for large-scale adventure design, including hex-based exploration, point-crawl structures, and hybrids that combine open wilderness with structured travel routes, plus practical techniques for keeping long overland journeys engaging at the table.]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7904/outdoor-adventures-in-dd-hex-crawls-point-crawls-and-big-journeys-wandering-dms-s08-e07.mp3" length="90813522" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Dan and Paul discuss techniques for running tabletop RPG adventures that span large outdoor regions and long journeys. From classic hex crawls and wilderness exploration to point crawls and node-based travel, outdoor campaigns present unique challenges for pacing, mapping, and meaningful player choice across wide geographic areas. How do different RPG traditions handle wilderness adventure? Why did early D&#38;D split dungeon and wilderness play between the Basic and Expert sets? Join us as we explore frameworks for large-scale adventure design, including hex-based exploration, point-crawl structures, and hybrids that combine open wilderness with structured travel routes, plus practical techniques for keeping long overland journeys engaging at the table.]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail-s08e07-1.0.1.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail-s08e07-1.0.1.png</url>
		<title>Outdoor Adventures in D&#038;D &#124; Hex Crawls, Point Crawls, and Big Journeys &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E07</title>
	</image>
	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>1:03:04</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul discuss techniques for running tabletop RPG adventures that span large outdoor regions and long journeys. From classic hex crawls and wilderness exploration to point crawls and node-based travel, outdoor campaigns present unique challenges for pacing, mapping, and meaningful player choice across wide geographic areas. How do different RPG traditions handle wilderness adventure? Why did early D&#38;D split dungeon and wilderness play between the Basic and Expert sets? Join us as we explore frameworks for large-scale adventure design, including hex-based exploration, point-crawl structures, and hybrids that combine open wilderness with structured travel routes, plus practical techniques for keeping long overland journeys engaging at the table.]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail-s08e07-1.0.1.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>The Dungeon! Boardgame &#124; The Essence of D&#038;D &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E06</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/the-dungeon-boardgame-the-essence-of-dd-wandering-dms-s08-e06/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">bd172cd8-71ec-528c-877a-4407be44e74c</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Paul and Dan pull out and analyze Dave Megarry&#8217;s famous Dungeon! boardgame, developed at the same time as D&#38;D, published in 1975. How much were the games similar, and were do the differ? What changed in the half-dozen iterations over the years? And does the stripped-down dungeon-crawling game still stand up today?]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Paul and Dan pull out and analyze Dave Megarry&#8217;s famous Dungeon! boardgame, developed at the same time as D&#38;D, published in 1975. How much were the games similar, and were do the differ? What changed in the half-dozen iterations over the years?]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul and Dan pull out and analyze Dave Megarry&#8217;s famous Dungeon! boardgame, developed at the same time as D&#38;D, published in 1975. How much were the games similar, and were do the differ? What changed in the half-dozen iterations over the years? And does the stripped-down dungeon-crawling game still stand up today?]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7893/the-dungeon-boardgame-the-essence-of-dd-wandering-dms-s08-e06.mp3" length="89376974" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Paul and Dan pull out and analyze Dave Megarry&#8217;s famous Dungeon! boardgame, developed at the same time as D&#38;D, published in 1975. How much were the games similar, and were do the differ? What changed in the half-dozen iterations over the years? And does the stripped-down dungeon-crawling game still stand up today?]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e06-1.0.0.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e06-1.0.0.png</url>
		<title>The Dungeon! Boardgame &#124; The Essence of D&#038;D &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E06</title>
	</image>
	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>1:02:04</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Paul and Dan pull out and analyze Dave Megarry&#8217;s famous Dungeon! boardgame, developed at the same time as D&#38;D, published in 1975. How much were the games similar, and were do the differ? What changed in the half-dozen iterations over the years? And does the stripped-down dungeon-crawling game still stand up today?]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e06-1.0.0.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>How Not To Be a Potato &#124; Showing Up at the Table &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E05</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/how-not-to-be-a-potato-showing-up-at-the-table-wandering-dms-s08-e05/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">e08d576a-d003-5c75-8c67-cd4342d705c7</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul tackle a deceptively common table problem: the potato player &#8211; someone who shows up, sits quietly, and never quite engages. Coined as shorthand for disengaged play, “potatoing” can look the same from the outside but come from very different places on the inside. In this episode, we break down the difference between intentional potatoes and accidental ones, passive watchers vs bored or overwhelmed players, and why silence at the table is not always disinterest. We offer practical advice for players who want to participate more confidently, as well as concrete tools for DMs to invite engagement without putting anyone on the spot. Whether you fear becoming a potato yourself or want to help your players stay involved, this episode is about agency, table expectations, and how to help everyone show up to the game.]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Dan and Paul tackle a deceptively common table problem: the potato player &#8211; someone who shows up, sits quietly, and never quite engages. Coined as shorthand for disengaged play, “potatoing” can look the same from the outside but come from very diff]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Dan and Paul tackle a deceptively common table problem: the potato player &#8211; someone who shows up, sits quietly, and never quite engages. Coined as shorthand for disengaged play, “potatoing” can look the same from the outside but come from very different places on the inside. In this episode, we break down the difference between intentional potatoes and accidental ones, passive watchers vs bored or overwhelmed players, and why silence at the table is not always disinterest. We offer practical advice for players who want to participate more confidently, as well as concrete tools for DMs to invite engagement without putting anyone on the spot. Whether you fear becoming a potato yourself or want to help your players stay involved, this episode is about agency, table expectations, and how to help everyone show up to the game.]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7889/how-not-to-be-a-potato-showing-up-at-the-table-wandering-dms-s08-e05.mp3" length="86029263" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Dan and Paul tackle a deceptively common table problem: the potato player &#8211; someone who shows up, sits quietly, and never quite engages. Coined as shorthand for disengaged play, “potatoing” can look the same from the outside but come from very different places on the inside. In this episode, we break down the difference between intentional potatoes and accidental ones, passive watchers vs bored or overwhelmed players, and why silence at the table is not always disinterest. We offer practical advice for players who want to participate more confidently, as well as concrete tools for DMs to invite engagement without putting anyone on the spot. Whether you fear becoming a potato yourself or want to help your players stay involved, this episode is about agency, table expectations, and how to help everyone show up to the game.]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e05-1.0.1.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e05-1.0.1.png</url>
		<title>How Not To Be a Potato &#124; Showing Up at the Table &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E05</title>
	</image>
	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>00:59:44</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul tackle a deceptively common table problem: the potato player &#8211; someone who shows up, sits quietly, and never quite engages. Coined as shorthand for disengaged play, “potatoing” can look the same from the outside but come from very different places on the inside. In this episode, we break down the difference between intentional potatoes and accidental ones, passive watchers vs bored or overwhelmed players, and why silence at the table is not always disinterest. We offer practical advice for players who want to participate more confidently, as well as concrete tools for DMs to invite engagement without putting anyone on the spot. Whether you fear becoming a potato yourself or want to help your players stay involved, this episode is about agency, table expectations, and how to help everyone show up to the game.]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e05-1.0.1.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Rangers in D&#038;D &#124; Wilderness Experts &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E04</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/rangers-in-dd-wilderness-experts-wandering-dms-s08-e04/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">ce0437ce-961e-54f5-bd3e-33991a318a45</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Paul and Dan chat about the history of Rangers in D&#38;D. Inspired directly by Tolkien, they&#8217;re one of D&#38;D&#8217;s earliest and most appealing sub-classes! With abilities to surprise, track, cut down giants, and even cast spells, they&#8217;re not your normal fighter. How has their appearance evolved over the years? Does their presentation really fit the intended purpose? And how do presentations in other game systems fare?]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Paul and Dan chat about the history of Rangers in D&#38;D. Inspired directly by Tolkien, they&#8217;re one of D&#38;D&#8217;s earliest and most appealing sub-classes! With abilities to surprise, track, cut down giants, and even cast spells, they&#8217;re]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul and Dan chat about the history of Rangers in D&#38;D. Inspired directly by Tolkien, they&#8217;re one of D&#38;D&#8217;s earliest and most appealing sub-classes! With abilities to surprise, track, cut down giants, and even cast spells, they&#8217;re not your normal fighter. How has their appearance evolved over the years? Does their presentation really fit the intended purpose? And how do presentations in other game systems fare?]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7885/rangers-in-dd-wilderness-experts-wandering-dms-s08-e04.mp3" length="87931207" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Paul and Dan chat about the history of Rangers in D&#38;D. Inspired directly by Tolkien, they&#8217;re one of D&#38;D&#8217;s earliest and most appealing sub-classes! With abilities to surprise, track, cut down giants, and even cast spells, they&#8217;re not your normal fighter. How has their appearance evolved over the years? Does their presentation really fit the intended purpose? And how do presentations in other game systems fare?]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e04-1.0.0.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e04-1.0.0.png</url>
		<title>Rangers in D&#038;D &#124; Wilderness Experts &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E04</title>
	</image>
	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>1:01:04</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Paul and Dan chat about the history of Rangers in D&#38;D. Inspired directly by Tolkien, they&#8217;re one of D&#38;D&#8217;s earliest and most appealing sub-classes! With abilities to surprise, track, cut down giants, and even cast spells, they&#8217;re not your normal fighter. How has their appearance evolved over the years? Does their presentation really fit the intended purpose? And how do presentations in other game systems fare?]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/thumbnail-s08e04-1.0.0.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Puzzle Dungeons &#124; Chris &#8220;Directsun&#8221; on Designing Meaningful Puzzles &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E03</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/puzzle-dungeons-chris-directsun-on-designing-meaningful-puzzles-wandering-dms-s08-e03/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">4596965e-7c52-5e15-9167-80e607aea6cf</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul revisit one of Wandering DMs’ earliest topics &#8211; puzzles in tabletop RPGs &#8211; this time with special guest Chris M, aka Directsun. Back in Season 1, we wrestled with why puzzles so often fall flat at the table, becoming roadblocks, immersion breakers, or exercises in frustration. In this episode, we return to that question with Chris, the designer behind The Seer’s Sanctum and Aberrant Reflections, two widely praised puzzle dungeons that treat puzzles not as isolated tricks, but as interconnected systems that teach players how the dungeon works. We discuss how puzzle design differs from riddles, why failure states matter, how to avoid &#8220;guess the GM&#8221; moments, and what tabletop designers can learn from escape rooms and video games without losing the soul of TTRPG play. We also look ahead to Chris’s upcoming project, A Familiar Tower, an escape-room-style puzzle dungeon crowdfunding during Zine Month 2026.]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Dan and Paul revisit one of Wandering DMs’ earliest topics &#8211; puzzles in tabletop RPGs &#8211; this time with special guest Chris M, aka Directsun. Back in Season 1, we wrestled with why puzzles so often fall flat at the table, becoming roadblocks, ]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Dan and Paul revisit one of Wandering DMs’ earliest topics &#8211; puzzles in tabletop RPGs &#8211; this time with special guest Chris M, aka Directsun. Back in Season 1, we wrestled with why puzzles so often fall flat at the table, becoming roadblocks, immersion breakers, or exercises in frustration. In this episode, we return to that question with Chris, the designer behind The Seer’s Sanctum and Aberrant Reflections, two widely praised puzzle dungeons that treat puzzles not as isolated tricks, but as interconnected systems that teach players how the dungeon works. We discuss how puzzle design differs from riddles, why failure states matter, how to avoid &#8220;guess the GM&#8221; moments, and what tabletop designers can learn from escape rooms and video games without losing the soul of TTRPG play. We also look ahead to Chris’s upcoming project, A Familiar Tower, an escape-room-style puzzle dungeon crowdfunding during Zine Month 2026.]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7881/puzzle-dungeons-chris-directsun-on-designing-meaningful-puzzles-wandering-dms-s08-e03.mp3" length="85966487" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Dan and Paul revisit one of Wandering DMs’ earliest topics &#8211; puzzles in tabletop RPGs &#8211; this time with special guest Chris M, aka Directsun. Back in Season 1, we wrestled with why puzzles so often fall flat at the table, becoming roadblocks, immersion breakers, or exercises in frustration. In this episode, we return to that question with Chris, the designer behind The Seer’s Sanctum and Aberrant Reflections, two widely praised puzzle dungeons that treat puzzles not as isolated tricks, but as interconnected systems that teach players how the dungeon works. We discuss how puzzle design differs from riddles, why failure states matter, how to avoid &#8220;guess the GM&#8221; moments, and what tabletop designers can learn from escape rooms and video games without losing the soul of TTRPG play. We also look ahead to Chris’s upcoming project, A Familiar Tower, an escape-room-style puzzle dungeon crowdfunding during Zine Month 2026.]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e03-1.0.1.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e03-1.0.1.png</url>
		<title>Puzzle Dungeons &#124; Chris &#8220;Directsun&#8221; on Designing Meaningful Puzzles &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E03</title>
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	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>00:59:42</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul revisit one of Wandering DMs’ earliest topics &#8211; puzzles in tabletop RPGs &#8211; this time with special guest Chris M, aka Directsun. Back in Season 1, we wrestled with why puzzles so often fall flat at the table, becoming roadblocks, immersion breakers, or exercises in frustration. In this episode, we return to that question with Chris, the designer behind The Seer’s Sanctum and Aberrant Reflections, two widely praised puzzle dungeons that treat puzzles not as isolated tricks, but as interconnected systems that teach players how the dungeon works. We discuss how puzzle design differs from riddles, why failure states matter, how to avoid &#8220;guess the GM&#8221; moments, and what tabletop designers can learn from escape rooms and video games without losing the soul of TTRPG play. We also look ahead to Chris’s upcoming project, A Familiar Tower, an escape-room-style puzzle dungeon crowdfunding during Zine Month 2026.]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e03-1.0.1.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Star Frontiers in 2026 &#124; Life in the Future &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E02</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/star-frontiers-in-2026-life-in-the-future-wandering-dms-s08-e02/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
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	<description><![CDATA[Dan &#38; Paul chat about the classic 1980&#8217;s sci-fi RPG, Star Frontiers, from the makers of D&#38;D. We&#8217;re still running it today for younger players and having a great time. What are the great things about it that still work, and what places have we found for improvements to change with the times? It&#8217;s a high-frontier, shoot-em-up, percentile-rolling blast from the past!]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Dan &#38; Paul chat about the classic 1980&#8217;s sci-fi RPG, Star Frontiers, from the makers of D&#38;D. We&#8217;re still running it today for younger players and having a great time. What are the great things about it that still work, and what places]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Dan &#38; Paul chat about the classic 1980&#8217;s sci-fi RPG, Star Frontiers, from the makers of D&#38;D. We&#8217;re still running it today for younger players and having a great time. What are the great things about it that still work, and what places have we found for improvements to change with the times? It&#8217;s a high-frontier, shoot-em-up, percentile-rolling blast from the past!]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7876/star-frontiers-in-2026-life-in-the-future-wandering-dms-s08-e02.mp3" length="85517199" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Dan &#38; Paul chat about the classic 1980&#8217;s sci-fi RPG, Star Frontiers, from the makers of D&#38;D. We&#8217;re still running it today for younger players and having a great time. What are the great things about it that still work, and what places have we found for improvements to change with the times? It&#8217;s a high-frontier, shoot-em-up, percentile-rolling blast from the past!]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e02-1.0.0.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
		<url>https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e02-1.0.0.png</url>
		<title>Star Frontiers in 2026 &#124; Life in the Future &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E02</title>
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	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>00:59:23</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Dan &#38; Paul chat about the classic 1980&#8217;s sci-fi RPG, Star Frontiers, from the makers of D&#38;D. We&#8217;re still running it today for younger players and having a great time. What are the great things about it that still work, and what places have we found for improvements to change with the times? It&#8217;s a high-frontier, shoot-em-up, percentile-rolling blast from the past!]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e02-1.0.0.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
</item>

<item>
	<title>The Rule of Cool &#124; When Breaking the Rules Makes the Game Better &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E01</title>
	<link>https://wanderingdms.com/podcast/the-rule-of-cool-when-breaking-the-rules-makes-the-game-better-wandering-dms-s08-e01/</link>
	<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
	<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></dc:creator>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">84d22055-7f87-55b7-8867-c80063119e48</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul kick off Season 8 by diving into one of the most debated ideas in tabletop RPGs: The Rule of Cool. When should a GM stick to the written rules, and when is it better to bend or ignore them because the table is fired up about a particular moment? We talk about why this principle feels so powerful at the table, how it can elevate dramatic scenes and player creativity, and where it can quietly undermine consistency, fairness, or long-term play if it becomes a crutch. From heroic stunts to narrative twists, we explore how to use the Rule of Cool as a tool rather than an excuse.]]></description>
	<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Dan and Paul kick off Season 8 by diving into one of the most debated ideas in tabletop RPGs: The Rule of Cool. When should a GM stick to the written rules, and when is it better to bend or ignore them because the table is fired up about a particular mom]]></itunes:subtitle>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[Dan and Paul kick off Season 8 by diving into one of the most debated ideas in tabletop RPGs: The Rule of Cool. When should a GM stick to the written rules, and when is it better to bend or ignore them because the table is fired up about a particular moment? We talk about why this principle feels so powerful at the table, how it can elevate dramatic scenes and player creativity, and where it can quietly undermine consistency, fairness, or long-term play if it becomes a crutch. From heroic stunts to narrative twists, we explore how to use the Rule of Cool as a tool rather than an excuse.]]></content:encoded>
	<enclosure url="https://wanderingdms.com/podcast-download/7872/the-rule-of-cool-when-breaking-the-rules-makes-the-game-better-wandering-dms-s08-e01.mp3" length="90264585" type="audio/mpeg"></enclosure>
	<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Dan and Paul kick off Season 8 by diving into one of the most debated ideas in tabletop RPGs: The Rule of Cool. When should a GM stick to the written rules, and when is it better to bend or ignore them because the table is fired up about a particular moment? We talk about why this principle feels so powerful at the table, how it can elevate dramatic scenes and player creativity, and where it can quietly undermine consistency, fairness, or long-term play if it becomes a crutch. From heroic stunts to narrative twists, we explore how to use the Rule of Cool as a tool rather than an excuse.]]></itunes:summary>
	<itunes:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e01-2.0.0.png"></itunes:image>
	<image>
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		<title>The Rule of Cool &#124; When Breaking the Rules Makes the Game Better &#124; Wandering DMs S08 E01</title>
	</image>
	<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
	<itunes:block>no</itunes:block>
	<itunes:duration>1:02:41</itunes:duration>
	<itunes:author><![CDATA[Wandering DMs]]></itunes:author>	<googleplay:description><![CDATA[Dan and Paul kick off Season 8 by diving into one of the most debated ideas in tabletop RPGs: The Rule of Cool. When should a GM stick to the written rules, and when is it better to bend or ignore them because the table is fired up about a particular moment? We talk about why this principle feels so powerful at the table, how it can elevate dramatic scenes and player creativity, and where it can quietly undermine consistency, fairness, or long-term play if it becomes a crutch. From heroic stunts to narrative twists, we explore how to use the Rule of Cool as a tool rather than an excuse.]]></googleplay:description>
	<googleplay:image href="https://wanderingdms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thumbnail-s08e01-2.0.0.png"></googleplay:image>
	<googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit>
	<googleplay:block>no</googleplay:block>
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