Ten Cool D&D Things #11-20
This list was emailed on March 29th, 2022.
Unlawful Games has created a magic sword generation system and capped it off with a d100 table. It is useful and great fun!
The D&D homebrew community has come up with some excellent material over the years, but few things equal this. With over 200 pages of imaginative monsters and full-color illustrations, the Book of Beautiful Horrors is entirely free.
I think we've all encountered the "lone wolf" player at a D&D table. Thankfully, the gnomes have some excellent advice on how to handle things.
I asked Twitter for boss battle tips, and they gave me seventy! There's some repetition, but it's worth reading the whole list.
Dael Kingsmill has written a series on using mythology at the gaming table. In her final entry, she discusses the fabled labyrinth of the minotaur.
The Alpine DM has an easy and effective process to generate one-shot adventure ideas.
Rise Up Comus has created a random wilderness encounter generator for a middle-earth-style game. Go and play with it, as there are some fun entries.
Brandes Stoddard has a dozen new warlock invocations to flavor your eldritch blast. "Say the line, Warlock!"
I usually only share recent articles, but I'm going to start including a classic piece in each newsletter. This week we have Sly Flourish's Guide to Theatre of the Mind Combat, first published in 2017. Most excellent.
Yes, it's free adventure time! Talisman of the Dark Sorrow is an introductory one-shot for second-level characters. It is short, simple, and very popular.
This list was emailed on April 5th, 2022.
DM David kicks things off with 7 Discarded D&D Rules That Could Still Improve the Game. I especially liked number 7.
Using Dora the Explorer as a model, Alyssa Visscher suggests a three-step model for simple wilderness travel.
Brian from Deathtrap Games says Level 1 Should be Awesome and gives several fantastic examples.
Do you like zombies? Sure you do! But what about augmented zombies?
The kobolds have a list of creepy omens you can work into your D&D game.
The merchant is an absolute staple of fantasy campaigns. DND Speak has a list of 100 interesting traveling merchants.
Ok, this is cool but will take some explanation. The 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide contains a set of tables for random dungeon generation. Paul Hughes turned these tables into an illustrated flowchart, and then he turned the flowchart into an online dungeon-delving game! Argh, it's probably easier if you have a look yourself.
The fine folks at Here Be Taverns have created an online NPC generator, complete with ideals, flaws, and bonds.
In this classic 2008 article, Grognardia explains the difference between a locale-focused adventure and a plot-focused adventure.
It's free adventure time! The Lambent Delirium is a Wuxia-flavored Feywild adventure for tier 2 characters. Enjoy!
This list was emailed on April 12th, 2022.
I've seen dozens of D&D adventure seed generators, but this one by Eldritch Fields is unique - it generates the seeds in haiku! Glamorous wizard / respected and feared by all / plans bloody jailbreak.
Sometimes your characters find themselves neck-deep in water, but the relevant Fifth Edition rules are scattered throughout the core books and are pretty threadbare. The Old Dungeon Master has consolidated this material and expanded it with a set of well-crafted house rules. If you are doing a water-based campaign, you will find this helpful.
Most combats in Fifth Edition are balanced match-ups between the opposing sides. Try this fun variant - throw the party up against an over-powered monster with a fatal weakness. d4 Caltrops created a list of 100 monster weaknesses drawn from fairy tales.
Molten Sulfur takes real-world history and turns it into RPG gaming content. This recent article is on Lord Thomas of Marle, the Wickedest Man of His Generation. Expect to see someone like him turn up in my Iskandar campaign setting!
People often ask if they can get hold of my previous "Ten Cool D&D Things" lists. Here is my very first list, published a year ago. I focused a lot more on the news back then - does anyone else remember the Summer of Drizzt!? My lists have evolved, as people were much more interested in gameable content than the goings-on at WOTC.
LaserLlama created this collection of ten roguish archetypes. There are some fun ideas here! Folks worry about play balance with this sort of homebrew material, but it is worth taking a chance if you seek something fresh.
I loved this article by Sly Flourish on how to use passive perception in play. It's practical advice that will help your game.
One thing I've learned from the old-school movement is the importance of factions. These tend to get downplayed by modern gamers, but I'm convinced they are crucial to campaign longevity. Throne of Salt created a list of 50 intriguing factions. Yes, they are for a science fiction RPG, but you can easily port them over to your fantasy D&D campaign.
Michael Curtis is a marvelous game designer who has taught me plenty. This classic 2008 article discusses five lessons he learned from writing his celebrated old-school adventure, Stonehell Dungeon.
Do you want another free adventure? I know you do! A Dungeon and A Dragon is a challenging tier 3 adventure inspired by Tucker's Kobolds. Good luck!
This list was emailed on April 19th, 2022.
The Arcane Eye recently published this in-depth look at short and long rests in D&D, and it included several good suggestions to make them more meaningful and playable.
A few weeks ago, I shared an NPC generator with you. Well, reader Jeffrey P emailed me a far superior generator from tetra-cube. You can use this to populate your world with quality characters very quickly.
This magic item from Ancient Vaults tickled my fancy--the Little Ship in a Dark Bottle.
Deathtrap Games has some great advice on how your players can help build your campaign world.
To celebrate their 1999th post, Elfmaids and Octopi created a set of Fantasy Chase Obstacle tables with over 150 entries!
Ok, this is cool and a bit freaky. Noisms fed some D&D monster descriptions into a machine learning tool and asked it to create new monsters. The results were surprisingly good.
Sarah Madsen has some helpful suggestions to keep your party on track without railroading them.
Oh no, Freddy the Fighter has died! How will we find a replacement? This free book lists 50 ways to Introduce a New Character to your party.
Bryce Lynch reviews RPG adventures. He is feared by creators due to his sharp tongue, but he does have some good insights. Into the Dark reverse-engineered Bryce's design principles from his reviews in a 2016 article that many recognize as a modern classic. Over the years, I've probably referred to this article more than any other source as I've written my adventures.
What time is it? Yes, it's free adventure time! The Wealthy Merchant is a half-hour adventure for zero-level characters, and it's designed to introduce absolute beginners to D&D.
This list was emailed on April 29th, 2022.
Over at the DM Academy, they are talking about one of the biggest mistakes a DM can make. I know I've done it more than a few times.
Pushing your game to a new level often involves adding small details. d4 Caltrops has 100 Equipment Backstories for you to use, and they are splendid. "This old sword? I stumbled on it when staying overnight in a graveyard on a dare."
Don't be embarrassed--it's happened to all of us. Sometimes our games stop being enjoyable. Jonathan Hardin has some simple tips to keep the fun in your game.
Death is always lurking around the corner in D&D. Teos has a long and thoughtful article about how to provide characters with a meaningful death.
I love magic fountains and pools. Like, I really love them! D&D Speak has created a table with 100 examples.
Taverns are ubiquitous in D&D, and it's always handy to have a map. Dyson Logos welcomes you to the Frogsmead Inn & Tavern.
Do you want a simple way to add interest to your campaign? Send the characters to another plane. Retrieving the magic bucket from the Dusty Mountains? Tired. Retrieving the magic bucket from Saragoss, the domain of nautical terrors? Wired!
The Alexandrian has a fantastic tip to help your mystery-based campaign run smoothly.
Encumbrance is a dull rule, right? In this 2015 article, the Last Gasp Grimoire suggests a great way to gamify this part of D&D.
It's free adventure time! Check out Felwin's Bizarre Friends, which comes with an isometric map!
This list was emailed on May 3rd, 2022.
The Lazy Dungeon master has an easy trick to create engaging overland travel sequences in D&D. What will your players do at the poisonous ancient obelisk of the Illithids?
Elf Maids and Octopi have devised 100 Terrible things behind that dungeon door. These are gonzo-style encounters you could throw into any dungeon to liven it up. Let me roll one up: "86. A savage dungeon-dwelling vampire walrus lives here, but he no longer craves fish. He keeps a selkie maiden in a cage."
The talented Kat Kruger gives us Monsters from Irish Mythology for 5e Adventures. It includes thematic adventure hooks, recipes for rebrewing the new monsters from existing stat blocks, and a collection of magic items. It is superb - a tiny masterclass on how to write articles of this sort.
Dansumption is using an artificial intelligence tool to generate random encounters. Some are pedestrian, but there are some stunningly original ideas as well.
Dump Stat Adventures has a step-by-step guide for setting up and playing a one-shot adventure. It's primarily common-sense advice but serves as a helpful checklist.
d4 caltrops created a list of 100 new dragon breath weapons. For example, "19. Cold Iron Needles, functioning as fléchette, able to embed in steel and stone." Of course, you can attach these ideas to any monster or trap you wish.
I'm a big fan of planar travel in the game. Flutes Lute has another well-executed article on the Inner Planes. Why not visit the Citadel of a Thousand Pearls this weekend?
Gnome Stew shows you how to evolve your campaign world through player character backstories. This technique can be the difference between a good campaign and a great one, in my experience.
From the archives: Wizard Thief Fighter explains why D&D is not a game. It's games and provides the ultimate rebuttal to those who say, "You are playing it wrong!"
The Death Pit of Moloch is a free adventure for beginning players. Great title and the scenario itself is fun and straightforward.
This list was emailed on May 7th, 2022.
The friendly boffins over at the DM Academy have defined the most effective D&D puzzle. And you know, I think they are on to something.
Creighton of the Gameatory makes a strong case for designing a wilderness area around your dungeon. As always, he provides practical examples.
RJD20 explains why and how to run a campaign in hell. It's a nifty article with a broad outline for a 1-20 campaign.
Are skeletons a bit naff in your game? Eldritch Fields has a d100 table of skeletal variants.
Lava is a common trope in D&D, and it is perhaps surprising that fifth edition hasn't codified rules for handling it. The Old Dungeon Master has put together a terrific set of House Rules for Lava, including options to dial up the realism.
On the Blog of Holding, Paul has created a skills breakdown of the Monster Manual entries. I find this sort of analysis inherently fascinating, but it's also helpful when doing your own monster creation.
The celebrated game designer Ben Robbins has an insightful essay about "levelling up" his online play skills. I suspect many people would benefit from his advice.
From the archive: In this classic 2008 essay, Grognardia expounds upon the oracular power of dice. "Like the oracles of old, dice aren't prophets; they're invitations to look at the world in a different way."
Sly Flourish proclaims that exploration is both the largest and the least understood pillar of the D&D game. This essay helps remove some of the fuzziness.
Free adventure: Temple of the Dragonknights is "perfect and free. Take it."
This list was emailed on May 10th, 2022.
Duncan shares some provocative opinions about the shield spell. Should it be banned?
Who likes blue? You do? Me too! Paratime Design is giving away an old-school blue dungeon map every Monday.
A friend recently said, "our games need to use more than 25% of the character sheet," meaning there is more to D&D than combat. Nerdarchy has five persuasion skill challenges you can drop into any game.
It's hard to ignore d4 Caltrops as they publish such great ideas. This time we have 100 Monster Special Attacks. Of course, you can attach these to traps as well.
Jae from Mastering the Dungeon tells us How to run a Play-by-Post D&D Game. I've always wanted to try that method out.
Flutes Loot has written an extended essay about why you shouldn't fudge dice rolls in D&D. They helpfully provide some alternatives to fudging.
From the archives: Ben Robbins published Grand Experiments: West Marches back in 2007, and it spawned a whole new way of playing D&D.
Should we consider RPGs to be an art form? Two scholars recently debated this topic in a journal, and this blog post summarises the arguments. You can also click through and read the original academic papers for free.
DnD Speak presents the New and Improved Tavern Generator! Join me in the Mighty Drum for a cleansing ale.
Free adventure: How Not to Host a Murder is a two-hour adventure for less-than-optimal characters.
This list was emailed on May 14th, 2022.
Peakrill Press has a short essay on naming things. I always thought names were a critical part of the D&D experience, and the passing years have only reinforced that assessment. Dan suggests a naming strategy in his essay, and it is a good one.
The Dweller of the Forbidden City describes how he plays D&D. His blog post is a combination of house rules and refereeing strategies, and I found it fascinating. It's always great to see how someone else runs their table.
Beth from D&D Duet tells us that small PC tweaks can have a big story impact while describing how she figured out the solution to a character problem.
I firmly believe there is a social contract at every gaming table, even if it is unwritten and unacknowledged. The gnomes take a deep dive into this vital aspect of play.
d4 Caltrops presents d100 forms for the shield spell. This table might be my favorite so far. And enormous respect to all you folk putting together d100 tables..!
Tabletop Joab has ranked every official paladin subclass. I enjoy lists of this nature, and I love taking the lowest ranked items and finding ways to improve them.
Bell of Lost Souls nominates Five Classic Dungeons Worth Delving Again. I've only played one of these, but I definitely want to explore the others. Ok, how to fit them into my current campaign...
Molten Sulfur has created a list of NPC archetypes drawn from the Facetiae, the earliest printed joke book. Medieval joke books are hilarious and a great source of material for bards.
From the archives: Goblin Punch presents 124 old-school-style D&D challenges. Some can be used as a single encounter, while others could form the basis of a campaign.
Free adventure: In honor of Mother's Day, the DMing Dad presents a family-friendly scenario called Yo' Momma Wears Combat Boots.
This list was emailed on May 17th, 2022.
Merric has been playing Elden Ring, and it has prompted some thoughts on D&D quests and the player economy. I look forward to some follow-up articles, Merric!
Are your players visiting the market square? Loot the Room presents us with 6 Curious Market Stalls.
Sea of Stars has a great little magic item called the Boar Crest Helmet. It is perfect for a martial character.
Scroll for Initiative gives a brief history of the alignment system in D&D and offers some alternatives.
Do you need a world-ending Boss for an undead-themed campaign? Check out the Plague Behemoth!
From the archives: In 2010, Justin Alexander wrote Jaquaying the Dungeon, which must be one of the most referenced blog series in D&D design history. It's a true classic about dungeon design, and I re-read it at least once a year.
Elfmaids and Octopi present us with 12 psionic treasures to drop right into your game. Oh, please give me the Silver Key...
I don't typically link videos (should I?), but this is too good to ignore. Veteran game designer Teos Abadia is creating a new video series called success in RPGs. I heartily recommend you check it out, and you can turn on closed captions if you'd prefer to read.
Sojourners Awake has some techniques to improve your improvisational skills as a Dungeon Master.
Free adventure: Welcome to I.S.T.A.R Facilities, a short D&D experience that captures the details of the Acquisitions Incorporated live game from PAX East 2016.