Why Your Villain Falls Flat (And How to Fix It with Show, Don’t Tell) | Part 1 of the Show Don't Tell Mini Series

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

Most villains fail not because they're weak—but because your players aren’t emotionally invested. In this episode, we kick off a powerful new storytelling series with a focus on “Show, Don’t Tell”—starting with the most misunderstood piece of storytelling in D&D: the villain.

You’ll learn:

• Why simply saying “he’s the bad guy” never works
• How to build villains that evoke real fear, anger, or awe
• A concrete method for triggering emotional investment
• Real-world villain examples (and mistakes to avoid)

Ready to turn your villains from forgettable into unforgettable? Let’s roll.

👉 Want even more insights? Patrons get bonus content featuring improv warm-ups, DM scene setting, and personal geeking out sessions. Join at https://session0studios.com/patreon

Special thanks to:

Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design

Techsenpai, Juka and TJ Max for being great moderators!

Foxy Beard for being a patron.

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