game mastering

3 Things I Learned as a Professional Game Master

I've run hundreds of games of D&D. In the last year, I dabbled in a few games as a professional game master (paid to GM). Here are three things I learned.

Paid-members only

5e

Destiny's Point Update

5e Featured

Destiny's Point: An Adventure Setting Sourcebook

Destiny’s Point is an adventuring town. The town and region surrounding it are filled with colorful NPCs, fantastic locations, and rich lore to inspire your games.

Paid-members only

npc

1d12 People You Meet in a Tavern

Here is a sampling of the 12 NPCs you might meet in a tavern. Ready to drop into your D&D game.

location

Scattered Series of the Infinite Wizard

A collection of twelve magical locations.

5e

Terror in the Clock Tower

Terror in the Clock Tower is a Dungeons & Dragons 5E adventure for characters of levels 1-2. The adventure is meant to be playable in 3-4 hours and takes place in and around a ruined clock tower. The adventure contains elements of urban fantasy, emphasizing exploration and problem-solving.

5e

A New Approach to Adventure Design + Free Encounter & Maps

There's no doubt that adventures written today are more "user-friendly" than in decades past. They're more accessible and employ better design practices. But I'll be honest, I can't read them.

campaign

Ending an Epic Campaign

A detailed look at the penultimate session of an epic D&D campaign.

campaign

Satisfying Player Character Endings

When I finish a long-running D&D campaign, I always ensure the last session includes three key things for each character.

publisher

Publishing an Adventure Is Cheaper Than You Think

You want to publish a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. But the task looks daunting. And expensive. Good news. It can be simple and cheap—even free.

osr

Stuck Between Worlds | OSR vs. Modern D&D

Modern vs. old school D&D and why you shouldn't pick just one.

general

My D&D Adventure Made This Much Money

I’ve self-published products across various platforms for 5E. I’ve learned a lot and I want to share that.

organization

The 2 Programs I Use to Organize My D&D Lore

I talk constantly about all of the wonderful ways to organize your D&D life. But what do I use? This question gets asked often and I thought it was finally time to answer it with a little bit more detail.

npc

1d16 Personalities for NPCs

NPCs are the lifeblood of our worlds. While creating quick NPCs is a useful tool, there are times when you want a bit more personality and depth. Enter 16Personalities.

prep

Simple 5E Sub-Systems for DMs in a Hurry

How do we embrace fun, new gaming opportunities in 5E without overly complex sub-systems? By asking three questions.

review Featured

The Ultimate Guide to TTRPG Campaign Managers in 2022

I’ve been obsessed with the intersection of software and tabletop roleplaying games. In particular, the management of campaigns and worldbuilding.

obsidian

Using D&D PDFs in Obsidian

You know by now that I love using Obsidian for Dungeons & Dragons. One of the biggest reasons is how easily it enables me to use my PDF supplements. If you’re anything like me, you’ve got dozens if not hundreds (or thousands) of PDFs from the DM’s Guild, DriveThruRPG, Kickstarter, etc.

obsidian

Getting Started with Obsidian for D&D

After years of searching, I’ve found my favorite way to manage my notes and worldbuilding for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.

5e

Dungeons, Dragons, & Downtime

Downtime activities are a recurring theme in most D&D campaigns. Many 5E source books include rules for downtime activities. But how do you take those rules and run enjoyable downtime?

5e

Flaws in Your D&D Game

Flaws and failure provide unparalleled opportunities for memorable moments in D&D. In this article, we’ll focus on flaws.

worldbuilding

Worldbuilding for the Story

Worldbuilding is a wonderful creative outlet. We build worlds to express ourselves. But not that alone. We could express ourselves through any other medium. Why choose worlds?

general

Midwest D&D Raid

In October of 2019, I participated in the most epic D&D game ever. A luxury loft in a historical part of town. Tons of food and drinks. More than a dozen players. Two Dungeon Masters. One epic raid.

npc

Triad NPCs

Creating interesting NPCs is challenging for new Dungeon Masters. But it doesn’t have to be. Let’s take a look at three methods for creating interesting NPCs with ease.

5e

Tools for Enhanced 5E Combat

As a Dungeon Master, we strive for fun and exciting combat encounters. The mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition provide us with a nice toolset to help. But it isn’t perfect. Combat can drag, feeling like a chore.