Are you a GamesMaster for a fantasy role-playing game? Do you struggle to make your settings feel real? Do you need a castle home base? Or a castle for the players to attack? Or a refuge from the dangers on the road? Maybe some NPCs in a wilderness stronghold? Ragnar's Keep is a detailed castle … Continue reading Ragnar’s Keep – a mediaeval castle setting for fantasy RPGs
Treasure – realistically, it’s messy
One of the things I remember when I first acquired the Dungeons and Dragons basic set was spending hours poring over the treasure tables in the Dungeon Masters Rulebook - in particular row H, the row of the dragons. For each type of treasure, it lists the chance of it being present as a percentage, … Continue reading Treasure – realistically, it’s messy
Developing Akorros: the Tannery Residents
The Tanneries of Akorros are unpleasant enough for those who visit or work there. Surely no-one and nothing is desperate enough to try to live there? Surely? The Tannery Rats Mounds of refuse by the side of the alley are live with maggots, squirming through the putrefying flesh, and flies are everywhere. A mound shifts … Continue reading Developing Akorros: the Tannery Residents
New Year Update – Moving Into 2022
As I type, it's Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) here in Edinburgh, although in some part of the world it is already 2022. A time for review and for new intentions. Looking back at my intentions from a year ago, I see my aims for 2021 were: get my app to the point where very early … Continue reading New Year Update – Moving Into 2022
Developing Akorros: The Tanneries
As you head down South Road, the fumes roll over you, catching in your throat and making you cough and splutter with the acrid smell of urea and the overpowering stench of rotting flesh until the wind changes again. You thankfully take in breaths of the clear cold winter air again, appreciating its freshness all the more.
Coping without equipment
Have you considered how your characters would cope without their equipment? What would they do? Suddenly both exploration and combat become rather different. Now think about it as a GM - you've set up a scenario where the players' characters have had their equipment taken away. How do you make it feel like an interesting … Continue reading Coping without equipment
October update
Unlock with PatreonLevel Up (A5E) is here!
The Level Up Kickstarter concluded successfully last night, and I've already been sent my links to the PDFs on DriveThruRPG - look at this gorgeous artwork on the front covers. I've had a quick look in both the Adventurer's Guide (Player's Handbook) and Trials and Treasures (DMG), and I already like what I'm seeing. Trials … Continue reading Level Up (A5E) is here!
Two more Kickstarters
It seems to be Kickstarter season. Hardly a day passes without an invitation to invest in yet another Kickstarter. I'd like to highlight another couple of Kickstarters I think really worthwhile. Extraordinary Expeditions Kickstarter page here I have always been keen to run my own campaign with its own storyline - part of the fun … Continue reading Two more Kickstarters
Level Up – rethinking D&D Fifth Edition
Dungeons and Dragons is one of the most iconic role-playing games, and Fifth edition is the most popular version of Dungeons and Dragons. It started playtesting in 2012 with the Basic Rules released in July 2014 and the Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master’s Guide came out in August, September and December of that … Continue reading Level Up – rethinking D&D Fifth Edition
RPGaDay2021
Now in its eighth year, RPGaDay is an initiative encouraging people to join the online conversation about roleplaying games by sharing something every day in August. Check out the Facebook page and read a variety of posts. Last year I managed to keep up with it, and posted every day, starting with RPGaDay2020 Day 1: … Continue reading RPGaDay2021