Plenty. That's the inspiration for day 18 of #RPGaDay2019, following One yesterday. How often do we consider the implications of things being plentiful? I know D&D isn't meant to be an exact simulation of the world and that's one of its strengths, but anything common becomes inherently less valuable. In the BECMI days, 80% of … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 18 – Plenty
One. That's the inspiration for day 17 of #RPGaDay2019; normal service is resumed following my Dream yesterday. You may have gathered I've been around a while, and started with the Red Box Basic Set. And I am torn between the old style and the new style. One innovation since my time of which I whole-heartedly … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 17 – One
For day 9 of #RPGaDay2019 we get critical, following Obscure yesterday. When I started with BECMI, there was no concept of critical rolls - no critical success or critical failure. My friends played AD&D, so I'd hear them talking about a critical hit and wonder what this was. Fast-forward 35 years to 5e. It's there … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 9 – Critical
Ancient. That's the inspiration for day 6 of #RPGaDay2019, following Space yesterday. My son would prbably say I'm ancient, my daughter certainly thinks my language outdated (or cringes when it isn't), and there are certainly days when I feel ancient. But with age comes wisdom, or at least experience which can sometimes substitute. As I … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 6 – Ancient
It's been a while since I posted the previous call for reviewers for Ragnar's Keep, and over a month since I sent out the first drafts for review, so I thought it was time for an update as to where I've got to. The castle has detailed descriptions for ground floor, basement, and two and … Continue reading Ragnar’s Keep update on progress
I'm currently working through Castle Amber, as mentioned in previous posts. However, I've got bored of just running the encounters and rooms in the module, so I've started to go off-piste.This is a room I added in place of the Green Man - area 41 - and the empty room where they have to find … Continue reading Water trap puzzle – an encounter for 5e
In Always Tell me the Odds: Redesigning Random Encounters, The Angry GM highlights something which has struck me since returning to the D&D scene after a break of 25 years. Back when I started, wandering monsters were random encounters which might or might not lead to a fight. The Basic Dungeon Master's Rulebook contained reaction … Continue reading When did random encounters become unplanned battles?
This is an encounter I created for the Darokin adventures, but it is completely generic. It adds an interesting 3D aspect to the encounter. The group were guarding a caravan along a wilderness trail, and I was introducing a new player. This was set up as a rescue scenario for her. It is based on … Continue reading Spiders’ Cavern – an encounter for 5e
How do you cope with the fact that players can do anything? Your carefully laid plans get ruined by the players reacting in a way you don't expect. I've had a couple of near TPKs as a result of thinking things through too carefully in terms of a particular approach from the players and not … Continue reading Preparing with situations and characters
These are a set of encounters I created to flesh out the raiders' camp in Hoard of the Dragon Queen. Thanks to Slyflourish (Mike Shea) for inspiration with his version. Encounters: The Banshee Cougars A sharp set of 15 mercenaries in black leather jackets and trousers sitting on boxes around a camp fire between four … Continue reading HotDQ – raider camp encounters
