Knights of the Dice: Exploring D&D Culture

Cottman,Crawford and the Jersey guy.

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Dungeons & Dragons has leveled up—from a niche basement game to a full-blown creative movement.
In this episode, we sit down with our friend Justin—a passionate Dungeon Master—to explore how D&D became the go-to outlet for storytelling, improv, friendship, and fantasy.
Justin breaks down what it’s like to run a campaign in 5th Edition, from plotting 20-session arcs and improvising on the fly, to building 3D maps with Tailspire and giving life to dozens of characters through unique voices.
“It’s like cooking a meal for your friends—but the meal is a shared experience you create together.”
In this episode, we explore:
• Why scheduling is the hardest boss in D&D
• How Tailspire and Discord bring virtual campaigns to life
• The evolution of D&D rules: from grid paper and math headaches to streamlined 5E
• Why “session zero” is often the most exciting part
• How pop culture—Stranger Things, Critical Role, Honor Among Thieves—boosted the game’s popularity
• Making your own worlds: GI Joe, Star Wars, or anything your party can imagine
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just curious what your friends are doing for five hours every weekend, this episode offers a real look behind the DM screen—and might just inspire you to roll for initiative.

Hosted by: Cottman, Crawford & The Jersey Guy
Contact us: [email protected]
Links & socials: https://linktr.ee/ccandnjguy

Chapters

1. Knights of the Dice: Exploring D&D Culture (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to the Podcast (00:00:09)

3. Introduction to D&D Discussion (00:00:58)

4. Being a Dungeon Master (00:06:40)

5. Character Building and Game Mechanics (00:11:22)

6. Creating Stories and Campaign Planning (00:17:23)

7. D&D Movie Discussion (00:28:18)

8. Character Progression and Leveling Up (00:35:33)

9. The Artistic Side of D&D (00:40:36)

10. D&D Media and Adaptations (00:43:18)