Last night, I ran my new group (the Hobo Pygmy Trolls) through Tresendar manor, a location just outside of Phandalin. I had been using a wet erase battle map to draw the different parts on the fly, but last night I decided (two hours before the game) to hand-draw the entire layout. I started with … Continue reading Lost Mine of Phandelver: Tresendar
There and back again, or how I went from hand-drawn maps, to TVs and back
When I started DMing again in 2014, I had a pretty basic DMs kit. I had some minis, maps, markers, dice. As my DMing evolved, I started making and collecting my own terrain. Eventually I had to move to Alaska, and gifted most everything to my friends. And then i started to make more. I … Continue reading There and back again, or how I went from hand-drawn maps, to TVs and back
A new year, a new group and new campaign
I recently started what must be my fourth or fifth time running Lost Mine of Phandelver. After getting the itch to play a friend, her husband and myself all decided to roll up characters and I could show them how Fifth Edition worked in regard to character generation. Then we pledged that we would start … Continue reading A new year, a new group and new campaign
Cartography exercise and mapping for Dungeons and Dragons
i have a small 5-by-8 writing pad that is essentially graph paper (except the graph lines are yellow), and it's the perfect size to doodle dungeons in. I find the size lends itself to a dungeon that can be explored in a session depending on the length of time. But it still gives you the … Continue reading Cartography exercise and mapping for Dungeons and Dragons
Out of the Abyss: An updated map of Velkynvelve (now with more color)
I had posted the original map on my post here (but I've since updated the map). It was mostly created to help a friend turn the linear first level adventure of Out of the Abyss into more of a sandbox feel. He didn't like how the characters were prescripted to go through the adventure from … Continue reading Out of the Abyss: An updated map of Velkynvelve (now with more color)
Session Zero ~ Getting a fresh start with a new group
Wednesday night I had invited a friend, her partner and a couple of other players from a statewide D&D group to join us for a quick session zero. While the two other players did not attend, my friend and her partner got a good start on creating their characters, and I got to walk them … Continue reading Session Zero ~ Getting a fresh start with a new group
Out of the Abyss: NPCs as a roadmap to a larger sandbox
We'll focus a little more on creating an overall sandbox-style adventure, using Out of the Abyss as your reference point.
Blog rollcall ~ What are some good blogs to follow for Dungeons and Dragons?
This list is made with the idea of collecting D&D blogs and eventually organize them. A short list of D&D blogs for reference: Old School DND: Reimagining the classic RPG in Different Genres Elfmaids & Octopi Dungeon Possums False Machine Devil Ghost (formerly Quickly, Quietly, Carefully) Necropraxis Delta's D&D Hotspot Dreams of Mythic Fantasy Beyond FomalhautBeyond … Continue reading Blog rollcall ~ What are some good blogs to follow for Dungeons and Dragons?
Out of the Abyss: A possibly unhelpful guide to sandboxing Velkynvelve
The Level 1 adventure in Out of the Abyss is painfully linear. I offer up a suggestion to make it fit into more of a sandbox style.
Running the Game: Ideas about utilizing your baddies
I've been thinking about running villains and baddies for my Dungeons and Dragons game. Dael Kingsmill has a sometimes D&D-inspired YouTube channel where she offers a little bit advice. One I like the idea of making legendary reactions that are geared toward the players' actions. Hankerin's Logic Gates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc9OBmy8Sag&t=922s Matthew Colville on running epic bad … Continue reading Running the Game: Ideas about utilizing your baddies
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