Running a High-Level Game | GMJ 332
From Game Master's Journey by Lex Starwalker
October 14, 2025 · 1h 7m · Season 18 · Episode 332
About this episode
Lex Starwalker discusses the challenges and strategies of running high-level RPG games.
In this episode I discuss running D&D and other RPGs at high level. It’s often not as fun as we think it’ll be, especially for the GM. A lot of the issues with high level play and advancement are baked into the games, but sometimes we as GMs make the situation even worse through our approach. I talk about some ways to handle powerful PCs as a GM—what to do and what not to do. I also share things I’ve learned running Blood of the Avatars and other high-level campaigns. Hopefully you can learn from some of my mistakes in your next high-level game. Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance . Have you read Critical Balance ? Please leave a review on Amazon . Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Call the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391). If you’re a new listener, and you’d like to go back to the beginning, here’s a link to Episode 1 . If you’re interested in worldbuilding and/or my D&D campaign setting of Primordia, check out the first worldbuilding episode . You can go to this page to see all the episodes that discuss worldbuilding . Check out my latest D&D supplement, Adventurers of Primordia .
People in this episode
Host: Lex Starwalker
Topics covered
- high-level RPG play
- D&D
- game mastering
- powerful PCs
- campaign management
Keywords
- high-level games
- D&D
- RPGs
- game master
- campaigns
- Blood of the Avatars
- Critical Balance
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Game Master's Journey, Amazon, Lex Out Loud
Books & works: Critical Balance, Blood of the Avatars, Adventurers of Primordia
Places: Primordia
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- GM Pitfalls to Avoid in Daggerheart & Other RPGs | GMJ 339 · April 22, 2026 · 1h 9m
- Daggerheart GM Best Practices | GMJ 338 · April 16, 2026 · 57 min
- Daggerheart GM Principles | GMJ 337 · March 10, 2026 · 1h 24m
- Daggerheart Player Best Practices, Maintaining Trust & Death Moves | GMJ 336 · February 24, 2026 · 53 min
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