This may be controversial, but I think challenge rating has been missold. I might even go so far as to call it a dangerous myth.
Is challenge rating a lost cause?
In Praise of the Forge of Fury
Do I admire this adventure so much because I'm nostalgic for it and it has a special place in my heart? Or because it's actually, objectively, really, really good?
Gods of the Forbidden North: A Monumental Achievement
Three volumes, 1,600 pages, and one of the most ambitious campaigns ever produced. Here's what I make of it.
Christmas in July and a Patreon Exclusive
A short post this week, but two bits of news.
The Unfinished Halls: a new adventure for Old-School Essentials
I'm delighted to share that I have now completed the first keyed zone of the Drowned Labyrinth, the megadungeon at the heart of my new West Marches campaign.
Building a New Campaign, Part 5: The Unfinished Halls
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 This is my fourth post in my new series: an open-table West Marches campaign for Old-School Essentials. So far, I have sketched out the home base and the surrounding area. Today, I want to get started with mapping the first few passages of the Drowned Labyrinth, the primary megadungeon. For playability reasons, I should … Continue reading Building a New Campaign, Part 5: The Unfinished Halls
Building a New Campaign, Part 3: The Drowned Labyrinth
Ten miles west of Greyhold, a maze of sea caves leads into a sprawling network of flooded halls and corridors. Few who dwell there or plunder its treasures know the truth: that it is an ancient prison of a dreaming god.
Building a new campaign, Part 1: the one-page overview
In a vast and perilous land, ambitious treasure-hunters chart the wilderness, descend into dark places, and claim whatever riches they can carry.
Amazing advice from the 3rd edition DMG
I know it’s not a particularly glamorous topic, but the rhythm of the adventuring day is key for establishing an appropriate sense of threat. If encounters are too easy, the game feels trivial; too hard, and every combat becomes a slog. Get the ratios right, and the players feel like badass heroes.
Almost great: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (a review)
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight was released three and a half years ago in September 2021 and was something of novelty for Wizards of the Coast, especially coming on the back of Rime of the Frostmaiden and Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, two quite dark and horror-themed sourcebooks. Witchlight promised to be the exact opposite, … Continue reading Almost great: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (a review)