Prep Less, Teach Better: Convention D&D for New Players

Prep Less, Teach Better: Convention D&D for New Players

Author: Tabletop Journeys May 1, 2026 Duration: 11:55
Tabletop Journeys
LeisureGames

Prep Less, Teach Better: Convention D&D for New PlayersRunning D&D for new players does not require hours of prep.At Rising Phoenix Game Con 2026, I put the TTJ approach to the test with a mixed table of new and experienced players, proving that the right adventure and the right mindset can carry the entire table.This is your Convention Diary + GM Breakdown.Six players.Three experienced.Three brand new.One goal: keep the game moving and make sure everyone is having fun.If you have ever wondered how to run games for new players without over-prepping or over-complicating things… this is the episode for you.#OnTheRightPath #TTRPG #DND #DungeonMaster #GameMaster #RoleplayersWanted #CallYourBoysTTJ #TTRPGCommunity #LearnDND--------------------🎲 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN - How to choose the right starter adventure for new players - Why “less prep” leads to better teaching at the table - How to read player cues and guide decisions without railroading - When to use maps, minis, and tools, and when to keep it simple - How to run fast, engaging convention games for mixed tables --------------------🧠 THE TTJ WAYStart with a strong, simple adventure.Prep what matters.Teach through play, not lectures.When you combine that with patience and enthusiasm, you get:👉 New players who get it👉 Tables that stay engaged👉 Games that actually move--------------------🎥 FEATURED ADVENTURE: Borderlands Quest: Goblin TroublePublished by Wizards of the Coast (Available on D&D Beyond)Credits: - Designer: Shawn Merwin - Additional Writing: Chris Tulach - Editor: Sadie Lowry - Cover Illustrator: Robson Michel - Cartographer: Dyson Logos - Illustrators: John Grello, Alejandro Pacheco, Taras Susak, Matias Tapia--------------------🔥 Rising Phoenix Game Con🔥One of our favorite conventions, run by an incredible team and community.Event Info:🌐 https://tabletop.events/conventions/rising-phoenix-gamecon-2026Join the Community:🌐 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1H7nDRZ8qQ/--------------------🎙️ MORE FROM TABLETOP JOURNEYS- Star Trek Preservations – STA Actual Play- Tabletop Cafe – TTRPG conversations & community- Dr. Homebrew – Build it, test it, run it at your table- On the Right Path – Bite-sized GM advice--------------------🎙️ TTJ CREDITSWritten, Hosted, & Edited by Lewanika MillerTheme: “The Lewanika Jam” by David HerreraOpening and Closing sequences produced and edited by David Herrera at Bow Tie StudiosTabletop Journeys is hosted by Josh Newton and Lewanika Miller, with Michael Ross🎧 Listen & Watch:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/tabletopjourneysYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneysJoin our games on Patreon:🌐 https://www.patreon.com/tabletopjourneysDriveThruRPG:🌐 https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/21022/Tabletop-Journeys-LLCDM’s Guild:🌐 https://www.dmsguild.com/browse/pub/21022/Tabletop-Journeys-LLC----------If this helped you rethink how you prep or teach at the table:👍 Like the video💬 Drop your biggest challenge teaching new players🔔 Subscribe for more GM tools and convention insights


Three longtime friends, with a combined century of experience around the gaming table, invite you into their ongoing conversation. Tabletop Journeys is a podcast born from decades of shared history, not just as gamers but as people who have spent a lifetime thinking deeply about the worlds we create together. You’ll hear the easy, often hilarious dynamic of a group that has played in and run every kind of tabletop and live-action roleplaying game imaginable. Their discussions are the kind that usually happen late at night, after the dice are put away, where ideas get pulled apart, rebuilt, and passionately debated. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in one of those living rooms, listening in as they dissect everything from game mechanics and storytelling techniques to the unexpected life lessons found in collaborative imagination. It’s less a formal review show and more a chronicle of a lifelong journey through games, packed with the kind of insight and friendly argument that only comes from truly knowing your fellow travelers. Tune into this podcast for a natural, deep, and often very funny exploration of why we play.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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