When I started DMing D&D games 20 years ago, my approach was often very inflexible. Now, in general, I wouldn’t say I am much of a control freak in other aspects of my life. But when it came to writing adventures, I wanted a bit of security. My dungeons were linear. My notes were thorough. … Continue reading Tools for better improv
How to introduce a new character
D&D is a very reactive game. As a DM, there’s only so much you can do to prepare ahead of time. You have to learn to improvise – unless you railroad, of course, and if you’re railroading, are you really playing an RPG? The one part of the game that you can prepare with some … Continue reading How to introduce a new character
How to get started with Dungeons & Dragons
So, you’ve heard about this amazing game called Dungeons & Dragons. Perhaps you found out about it from watching Critical Role or Stranger Things. Maybe you were given the D&D Starter Set or Essentials Kit. Maybe you played years ago and want to get back into it. This article is a guide to getting started with D&D.
How to run a session zero
Want to start a new campaign? Run a session zero first. Here's how!
New DMs Guild adventure!
I have just published my first DMs Guild adventure, Tomb of the Grimlocks. I hope you like it! Check it out here: www.dmsguild.com/m/product/376140 Intended for 4th-level characters, this adventure takes the party beneath the earth to an ancient tomb. Enjoy!
How big are your hexes, anyway?
I thought I’d take a break from world-building this week to share a little post about hex mapping. Hexes are useful in roleplaying games because they allow you to travel equidistantly in more than four directions. This is not true of a traditional square grid, where diagonal movement is considerably farther than orthogonal movement. The … Continue reading How big are your hexes, anyway?
Building a New World: Part 2
Having determined what my world as a whole wil look like, it’s time to zoom in on one continent in detail.
Building a New World: Part 1
This week, I downloaded the World Builder’s Guidebook from DriveThruRPG, and my goodness, what a find. Many thanks to Twitter user @Archarzel for putting me onto this. The World Builder’s Guidebook is a 96-page supplement by Richard Baker, published in 1996 for the 2nd edition of AD&D. This was about a year before TSR was … Continue reading Building a New World: Part 1
The best way to level up: milestones or XP?
cle, I look at the pros and cons of both milestone levelling and traditional XP in the hope to guide you as to which is right for your campaign. Tl;dr: they both have their place.cle, I look at the pros and cons of both milestone levelling and traditional XP in the hope to guide you as to which is right for your campaign. (Tl;dr: they both have their place.)
Inspiration: new race-class combos to liven up your game
There are some D&D characters that are absolute classics. Elven rangers. Dwarven fighters. Halfling rogues. They’re classic for a reason. Iconic, even. And hey, as I’ve said on this blog before, there’s nothing wrong with a human fighter. But when you’ve been playing D&D for a few years, these character choices can start to feel … Continue reading Inspiration: new race-class combos to liven up your game