Ten Cool D&D Things #61-70
This list was emailed on March 7th, 2023.
Kyle Shire kicks things off with 12 ways to add tension to your D&D heist. There is much good advice in this column, and it applies to D&D adventures in general, not just heists.
Ktrey has another list for us. This time it is d100 magical ropes and restraints! I like #56: "[The restraint] was once used to bind a deity; it knows two cleric spells."
Opal presents three steps to improve combat encounters. The advice is simple and solid, and I appreciate the worked example.
DM David discusses a fourth-edition innovation that still leads to bad adventure design. Do you agree?
Bronze Age Tea suggests that enemies should talk to each other during combat. It's a good tip, and he provides some fun examples.
Beth and Jonathan Ball discuss the importance of internal conflict in one-on-one D&D. They are the masters of this play style.
In a fascinating piece, Dave Clarke shows how to use "third places" to add cultural depth to your D&D campaign.
Kelsey Dionne's 5E/OSR hybrid, Shadowdark, is live on Kickstarter and heading towards a million dollars. In this revealing interview, she explains how she built her audience and tells us what is wrong with most D&D adventures.
This item is cute! Rogule is a free Roguelike game you can play in your browser. Everyone gets the same dungeon each day, and you get one chance to beat each day's dungeon.
Finally, Mercy's Wicked Tome of Witchcraft is a 14-page compendium of all things witchy for Fifth Edition. And, of course, it is free!
This list was emailed on March 14th, 2023.
Vassily shares nine under-appreciated DM tips. I read a lot of DM advice, but this article felt really fresh.
Did the party open up a coffin or tomb? What's inside? To help you out, Empedocles has created 100 treasured items of the deceased.
Players often want to know why D&D quest-givers offer so little help. Duncan has answers.
DM Micycle suggests DMs need to do some cross-training. No, it's not the sort that causes you to sweat!
Sly Flourish has a list of seven excellent tools for online play. I use most of these in my campaign.
I often see DMs and players complain about "dungeon grind." Johnn Four describes five ways to keep dungeons interesting.
Samuel Dobbler proposes a new design pattern called the 3x3 dungeon. I like this idea a little better than the 5-room dungeon because it gives you more navigation possibilities.
Eric shares an overview of Basic D&D and the games it has inspired. Very useful if you want to understand the old-school movement.
Do you feel self-conscious about your DM ability? This little story from the DM Academy might help.
Kibbles Tasty recently released 100 new spells into the creative commons. These are very good, and I used a few in my Iskandar player's handbook.
This list was emailed on March 21st, 2023.
RJ kicks things off provocatively, suggesting you should not balance your D&D combat encounters. Does anyone out there practice this approach with Fifth Edition?
Here's one for players. Riley Silverman has a bunch of tips describing how to get better at roleplaying in D&D. This is really solid advice.
Konsumterra presents 100 strange arcane coins. There are some creative and amusing entries in this list. Why not toss a [magic] coin to your players next session?
Celeste Conowitch returns with more adventure advice. This time, she suggests creating a vault of secrets. My "vault" is held in Notion.
Scroll for Initiative shares a comprehensive list of prompts to determine what your favourite character looks like. Copy and save this list somewhere handy.
Marcia has discovered the 5E Dungeon Master's Guide has an excellent procedure for handling character dialogue. She is correct that this is much neglected, even in the official adventures.
Joe Nuttall has put together a complete timeline of early D&D scenarios. Click on the label at the bottom to see the rest of the series. I use old adventures for inspiration all the time. An excellent way to appear original is to use obscure sources!
This is one for those who are academically inclined. Richard lists some basic anthropology texts for DMs. The books look both super interesting and super useful.
Drenghbar presents the Player's Guide to Tarkir. It's 40 pages of D&D setting goodness, and it is free.
Duranis was missing two players and filled the session with "downtime sparring." It was a great success, and the idea might also be helpful in your campaign.
This list was emailed on April 5th, 2023.
D&D Beyond just released an online, interactive solo adventure called Before the Storm. They did a great job with it!
Ms. Screwhead has been thinking about mechanically distinctive terrain that forces player choices. Here she presents Laws of the Land: meaningful terrain via limits and conditions. This is a clever and concise system for creating unique challenges. I'm impressed.
Phlox also has a method for meaningful terrain. This system is more conventional but includes a fully worked-out set of examples.
The Alexandrian is back with some advice on how to run NPC roleplaying scenes. This is another top-shelf article from Justin that addresses a problem DMs often run into.
Stuart Pate has a simple message for harried Dungeon Masters - no prep is wasted.
Ah, mazes. Early D&D adventure writers were obsessed with them, but players have rarely been as enthusiastic. Xaoseed shares some lessons learned on running non-monotonous mazes.
It's a controversial subject, but I'm fascinated with how this new generation of AI tools will transform everyday work. Vladar has been using ChatGPT to stock a dungeon and has made a few valuable discoveries.
Monte Cook is designing a new roleplaying game. In this short article, he describes how he gets started on such an endeavor.
The Tome of Battle II is 20 pages of new weapons, fighting styles, and feats for D&D. It is free, of course.
Finally, one of the boffins at the DM Academy encourages all you Dungeon Masters to embrace your inner tyrant. Hmmm... what do you think?
This list was emailed on April 13th, 2023.
Dweller of the Forbidden City argues that random encounters in D&D make the game world more immersive and impactful. Random encounters are out of fashion, but there is a lot of truth to this.
Here's something new from me. The Iskandar Explorers Journal is 38 pages of new player options, lore, and a complete dungeon. And it's free!
Sly Flourish proposes a simple method for determining monster initiative in D&D without rolling dice or using cards. It's a straightforward idea, but he makes a good case.
Spriggan's Den updates readers on his homebrew fantasy setting, Kaendor, and its influences and inspirations. I like his ideas, and he provides a good template for other homebrew worlds.
Fail Forward critiques the typical approach to lore creation in RPGs and suggests a different method based on prototypes and themes. Very insightful and thought-provoking. Lore should be more than just facts and dates.
Dndspeak lists 100 morally ambiguous side quests for D&D. Some of these are NSFW, so reader discretion is advised. These ideas are an antidote to the depressingly bland side quests so often thrown up in games. Even if you don't use this list, it may suggest creative moral quandaries for your characters.
RJD20 discusses the pros and cons of dice fudging and twist endings in D&D. This is controversial, as many DMs despise dice fudging.
DM Micycle explains how to design puzzles that are optional and rewarding rather than mandatory and frustrating. It is a constructive article reflecting my own approach to puzzles.
ChicagoWiz Games shares some tips and ideas for running an adventure where imprisoned PCs have to escape. Prison escape scenarios can be very fun, though not all players enjoy having their characters locked up.
One of the boffins at the DM Academy provides some combat scenarios for D&D that are more than just a slugfest. There are some neat ideas here involving strategy, goals, and terrain.
This list was emailed on April 25th, 2023.
Level 2 Janitor describes how to use time pressure and countdowns to create excitement in The Ticking Clock: My Favorite Mechanic. This well-written article offers practical examples and tips for DMs who want to spice up their sessions.
In How to Make a Compelling Backstory, Scroll for Initiative shows how to create an engaging, relevant, and memorable backstory for your character. This is a good guide for players who want to improve their role-playing skills.
Gnome Stew pays homage to one of the most iconic D&D adventures ever in B2 Tips to the Players Revisited. This nostalgic and informative article will appeal to all players, old and new.
Goblin Punch shares their thoughts on base resolution mechanics in Critical GLOG. This fascinating and math-heavy article proposes a method for assessing various resolution mechanics. An article for hard-core designers only.
Tavern Rumors is a website by Perchance that generates random rumors for your fantasy games. This fun and handy tool lets you easily create plot hooks and flavor for your campaigns.
Psychic Mayhem explores why your RPG system metaphor matters in RPGs as Art. This insightful article challenges some assumptions and invites reflection on the role of game design and mechanics in creating meaningful experiences.
Simple Builds That Make Multi-Level Battles Extraordinary by DM David describes how to create multi-level battle maps that add depth and complexity to combat encounters. This resource is excellent for DMs who want to make their battles more dynamic and challenging.
Gnome Stew gets a rare double feature and shows us how to use AI to generate ideas in Campaign Prep with ChatGPT. This topic is controversial, but the article demonstrates the potential of this tech to assist in our creative endeavors.
D4 Caltrops presents d100 Magic Armors. This fun list offers unique and flavorful options for your characters and NPCs.
Over in the DM Academy, Dorn Kratz explains why "Are you sure?" is the wrong question. Her alternative encourages player agency and immersion.
This list was emailed on May 8th, 2023.
You Don't Know What Metagaming Is by Dump Stat explains the difference between metagaming and regular player knowledge. Such a distinction is helpful when discussing this hoary chestnut.
In Dungeons & Dragons is good for the workplace, Dr. David Simkins reports that D&D can improve teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills among employees. His research found that the game fosters a collaborative and creative mindset that can transfer to the work environment.
Add some watery wonder to your campaign! d4 Caltrops presents d100 Magical Pools, Fountains, or Springs.
Architectural History for Gamers 1: Why Build City Walls? is a detailed post by Lurker that explores the reasons and implications of city walls in different historical periods and contexts. This informative article will help you create more realistic cities in your game world.
50 Adventure Hooks for Busy GMs is a collection of ideas by Headless Hydra Press to spark your imagination. They range from classic fantasy tropes to more unusual and creative scenarios. I like some of the hooks, but others are too vague for my taste.
Ms. Screwhead discusses the importance of having consistent and logical rules in your game world and how to avoid breaking verisimilitude in The Laws of It All. It includes some fun tables to help you answer the "big questions" about your world.
In something of the same vein, Build Your World with Structured Daydreaming by Mike Shea describes his method of creating immersive and engaging campaign worlds. All aspiring worldbuilders will welcome this valuable and practical advice.
The Totality of Ygg presents an unusual dungeon concept based on a four-dimensional cube in The Tesseract Maze. This mind-bending dungeon will challenge your players' expectations!
Diegetic Mechanics in TTRPG by Eric Nieuden explores the concept of game rules that are part of the fiction and narrative of the game. It is a fascinating idea that can enhance immersion and storytelling.
Finally, GM Burnout by Tabletop Joab talks about the exhaustion and frustration that can affect those who run games regularly. He shares advice on how to prevent, endure, and overcome it.
This list was emailed on May 16th, 2023.
Robin suggests you Learn from the MCU to Make Your Game Epic. This post is full of great tips, such as using humor, callbacks, character arcs, and crossovers--and you don't even have to like Marvel!
In How Bingo Can Revolutionize Your D&D Game, Tabletop Atelier tells us how to use a bingo card to run a D&D "beach episode" - a session where the focus is on fun and character development rather than danger. I want to try this out as I need help to make those sorts of sessions work.
Designing a Non-Medieval Medieval Game by Jonny Denham explores the creation of a world that is inspired by medieval history but not limited by it. I enjoyed how he tilted some of the stereotypes of the fantasy game genre.
David Hartlage discusses Rumors, Secrets, Clues, Hooks, and Leads, explaining why these elements are essential for engaging players and driving the game forward. This comprehensive post will help you craft a compelling campaign.
Zoganza - Interesting Relations in a City by Fe presents a method for creating a city with exciting factions, conflicts, and secrets. It's a simple process that yields rich results, and the article includes a couple of useful links.
Goblin Punch proposes a new way to handle random encounters in The Underclock: Fixing Random Encounter Tables. This innovative and elegant method adds time pressure to random dungeon encounters.
Dogpiling the Check by The Alexandrian offers some tips on managing situations where multiple players want to make the same skill check. It is a practical post that addresses a common table situation.
Monte Cook talks about task resolution mechanics in Success and urges designers against trying to "simulate reality." You may not be designing a new RPG, but you can apply the principle to dozens of situations in your D&D game.
RJ has some practical suggestions for Dungeon Masters who wish to Hone Your Craft. Some of these are "out there," but I appreciate being stretched.
Finally, in Slaying the Scheduling Dragon, Busy Wyvern shares tips on managing a busy schedule. It's a helpful resource for a problem we all face.
This list was emailed on May 23rd, 2022.
I just released Volume 2 of the Iskandar Explorer's Journal. It contains lots of new lore and player options and is completely free!
In What blog posts have influenced your gaming?, James Maliszewski asks Redditors to share their favorite OSR blog posts. The responses contain a treasure trove of practical DM advice.
The Hidden Stress of D&D by RJD20 shares his personal experience of dealing with stress and anxiety as a DM. This honest post will resonate with many people.
Sly Flourish suggests you should Build From the Characters Outwards when constructing a D&D campaign. I create my campaigns using something like this method, and I commend it to you.
Balancing Legendary Magic Items for Low-Level D&D is a well-thought-out article by Michael Galvis that shows how to include ultra-powerful magic items in low-level D&D games. I did this a couple of years ago when I gave Blackrazor to a level 6 party. It became a terrific plot device that drove the entire campaign. Chefs kiss.
The author of Monsters and Manuals reflects On Justice and Injustice in RPGs. It's a simple post that challenges the temptation to "fudge" the outcome.
Laser Llama has just released their alternate sorcerer. It includes new metamagic, feats, spells, and sorcerous origins.
D&D Alignments Explained with Examples by Tabletop Joab is an excellent overview of the alignment system in D&D. Many folks dislike alignment, whereas I leaned into it in the Iskandar Player's Handbook.
Loren Rosson III, who writes about fantasy literature and RPGs, presents The Dragonlance Modules Ranked. Whenever I find a list like this, I go back and read the highest-rated books, and it's always a valuable exercise.
Are you looking for a new, legendary boss monster? I like The Slime Lich by Timmmi. The lair actions are evocative and thematic, which is exactly what lair actions should be.
This list was emailed on May 29th, 2023.
The Lazy GM Resource Document by Mike Shea is a compilation of resources for DMs who want to run better games with less prep. It is, quite simply, a "must-have" document for every Dungeon Master.
If you want to spice up your game with some sci-fi elements, check out How to Incorporate Science Fantasy into your D&D Game. This approach is not for everyone, but it can be a great way to add variety if you're bored of the usual fantasy tropes.
DM David reveals The Neglected Secret to Making Dungeons Fun to Explore. You may recognize one of the people he quotes!
High-level D&D is always a controversial topic. In Wizard-Knighting: High-Level D&D, Noisms suggests several strategies inspired by a masterful fantasy book.
Five Minute Prep Sessions by Revenant Quill offers tips on rapid game session preparation. This practical and efficient method can help busy or lazy DMs.
Graz'zt is one of the oldest villains in the D&D canon and makes an excellent Big Bad Boss. Mark from Better Monsters has put together some new stats, tactics, and lore for the famed demon prince.
Seed of Worlds shares their two-step worldbuilding approach in Creating Elements for your RPG Campaign. There's a nice list of resources at the end.
Creating and Using Secret Societies by Kyle Shire contains lots of practice advice. I am a big fan of using factions in your campaign, and secret societies make great factions!
Materialist Campaign Creation describes various approaches to RPG campaign creation before advocating a "materialist" method. It's a little academic, but I enjoy articles that introduce some higher thinking to game design.
Do you like things a bit quirky and gonzo? Gabe Rodriguez recently released 40 pages of D&D player options for the Unfinity Setting. And it's all free.