One-shots are one of the most popular formats in tabletop RPGs — and one of the hardest to get right. In this episode, we break down what makes a one-shot succeed, from tight pacing and clear structure to meaningful character hooks and satisfying endings.
Whether you're onboarding new players, testing campaign ideas, or running a high-stakes one-shot for a public audience, this episode will give you the tools to design with purpose. We’ll cover how to avoid common pitfalls, adapt on the fly, and deliver stories that feel complete in a single session — without rushing or railroading.
If you've ever run a one-shot that fizzled, sprawled, or just ran out of time, this is the episode for you.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.