5e

Summoning Spells Suck in 5E

If you're a Dungeon Master, you've probably experienced the effect that summoning spells have on combat. Spoiler: it's not a good one. We know they suck because the rules have tried to patch them at least twice. But has it worked?

organization

How I Prepare for D&D with Obsidian

When it's time to plan my next Dungeons & Dragons session, I fire up Obsidian. But then what? Here's a behind-the-screen look at how I prepare D&D using Obsidian and the steps from SlyFlourish's Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master.

5e

Gotta Catch 'Em All: Magic Items

I like to look to my favorite books, games, and shows to inspire my next creations in D&D. This is a powerful tool for a DM and an endless source of inspiration. When looking at Pokémon, the inspiration was obvious: magic items.

game mastering

It's Clear That...

Do you ever have Dungeons & Dragons players that don't get it? You've laid out all the clues and answers but the players can't seem to pick them up? Luckily, there's an easy fix.

game mastering

3 Tips for Becoming a Professional Game Master

Over the last decade, I've run hundreds of games of D&D. Recently, I dabbled in professional game mastering (paid to GM). Here are three tips to help you become a professional GM.

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 a TTRPG Adventure Is Expensive! But It Doesn’t Have to Be

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.