Over the last few years, I’ve realized that what I really crave in my fantasy isn’t necessarily a recognized subgenre. I call it literary fantasy.
Unlocking the magic of literary fantasy
Awesome climate and terrain: Part 2!
Last week we explored arctic, coastal, desert, forest, and grassland environments. This week, we've got a few more: hill, mountain, swamp, Underdark, underwater, and urban.
How to build an awesome fantasy world with climate and terrain
I’ve been reading a lot about worldbuilding and map-making for a while now, so I thought I would put some of my notes in one place.
Seven twists to make your D&D world unique
D&D diverges from our own world in seven major ways. How would our games be different if we moved away from these core assumptions?
A new campaign: seven awesome adventures for 2024
A few weeks ago, I wrote about some of the most well-regarded adventures in the hobby, and it reminded me how much I love running campaigns. My last, Dungeon of the Mad Mage, was epic: it ended in May and lasted the best part of a year. Before that, I ran a 20-level homebrew campaign … Continue reading A new campaign: seven awesome adventures for 2024
From the experts: the greatest RPG adventures of all time
What is your favourite published adventure of all time? I put this question to as many industry heavyweights as I could: writers, game designers, YouTubers, even a few cartographers. I wanted to see what their favourite adventures were and why. These are the responses I got back, which I'm delighted to share with you. Featured: … Continue reading From the experts: the greatest RPG adventures of all time
The Great 2023 RPG Gift Guide
Here we go again! WELCOME to the 2023 Scroll for Initiative Holiday Gift Guide. A few things first. This is an independent blog. There are no affiliate links here, nor am I being paid in any way to endorse these products. (Believe me, I wish I were!) As always, please support your Friendly Local Game … Continue reading The Great 2023 RPG Gift Guide
Deeper character creation: dramatic poles revisited
One of the most powerful storytelling tools I’ve encountered this year is also one of the simplest: dramatic poles.
So You Want to Be a Game Master: Review
If you're serious about DMing, you will know who Justin Alexander is. So what is his new book all about, and what did I make of it?
Out Now: Sleeper Of The Sunken City
Ever fancied a trip to R'lyeh to take out one of the Great Old Ones? Do you like the vibe of games like Eldritch Horror and Arkham Horror and want to recreate them in D&D? Have you ever just wondered what Cthulhu's stat block would look like in 5th edition? If so, this adventure is for you!