D&D isn’t one game but a framework made up of multiple, overlapping mini-games. They can blend together so smoothly that you don’t notice when you’re switching from one to the other—until something feels off.
D&D is more than just one game
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.
A new narrative template for cinematic one-shots
How can we apply the concept of ‘story beats’ to build a memorable single-session adventure?