We've all been there--scrambling to deal with the question "I search the shelf, so what do I find?" Of course as DM's we want to have interesting volume names to rattle off so we're not just saying "Oh, this book (which is obviously the magic one)". But, who has the time to litter their world with... Continue Reading →
Variant Rules – A Different Way to Handle Falling
Variant Rules for Falling It can be hard to have a truly omni-directional combat that means anything in 5e (and not unique to 5e, either). Falling is an almost meaningless mechanic after a few levels and doesn't really represent a lot of worry after 10th. Between Feather Falling and Flying and good saves and hit... Continue Reading →
Narrative Play Style – How and When to Roll Dice (Part 01)
A check. There's a lot packed into that five-letter part of the game. What's is it, when do you get it, what should happen with it, etc... I've read (and argued) the differences in when and how to use the roll-for-outcome mechanic at the heart of any RPG (and certainly D&D) for years. Like political... Continue Reading →
Making Nobility Work for Players and PCs
So, truly, I like the idea of expanding the DMG a bit in the direction of motivating the players to find reasons for the PC's to want to gain holdings and land and titles and all of that. Rather than have unending sessions of murder-hobo (which is a fine enough way to play), I want... Continue Reading →
Goblins, the Great Bastards
This is part of a series exploring some advice on how to use certain monsters in your games--a resource for flavor and occasional combat tips. Where are they? I like to think of goblins as being the fantasy equivalent (where possible) of the old slum and street gangs of England and the United States in... Continue Reading →
Playing a Dragon
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES EXPLORING SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO USE CERTAIN MONSTERS IN YOUR GAMES--A RESOURCE FOR FLAVOR AND OCCASIONAL COMBAT TIPS. After being asked about the one we had in LMoP in our game, and how we wrote up the story of the encounter on our game's Obsidian Portal, I decided... Continue Reading →
Running Hobgoblins
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES EXPLORING SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO USE CERTAIN MONSTERS IN YOUR GAMES--A RESOURCE FOR FLAVOR AND OCCASIONAL COMBAT TIPS. So, I like to take intelligent, lawful evil things seriously. Very seriously. Like Dr. Doom seriously. Hobgoblins being the more featured "antagonists" of Kalamar (the setting we in my group... Continue Reading →
Many-Sided Dice 