Weapon Mastery across the editions

I have fond memories of Weapon Mastery from the BECMI Master Player’s Guide. Now there are three pretenders to "next D&D 5e" and each introduce something similar.

RPGaDay week 1

RPGaDay 2022 prompts RPGaDay is back for the 9th year. After the previous couple of years being fairly abstract prompts, this year they have returned to very directed questions. You can see them all in the graphic. I’m not sure how relevant some of the questions later are to me, but I’ll make a start … Continue reading RPGaDay week 1 →

Developing Akorros – Redcliffe Market

This is based on and extended from a description I wrote for a new campaign starting in Akorros in the Republic of Darokin. It has extended my development of Akorros, so I thought it was worth sharing. It’s a cold, grey autumn day in mid Sviftmont, about mid-morning, and you’re in Redcliffe Market on the … Continue reading Developing Akorros – Redcliffe Market →

How do the monsters react?

Last week, DM David wrote about the problems caused in D&D with monsters who run or surrender, given that you then have to account for them and what will happen as a result, and characters will tend to give chase, or start interrogating/torturing the captives, and so it’s just simpler if you let the fight … Continue reading How do the monsters react? →

Developing Akorros – Khoronus and Chardastes

I have recently been developing some of the immortals in my version of Akorros, and so I have been researching the canon. One Immortal particularly pertinent to Akorros is Khoronus, patron Immortal of Akorros, and with his main temple based in Akorros – I have placed it on the southern tip of the island in … Continue reading Developing Akorros – Khoronus and Chardastes →

Has magic become too ubiquitous?

I will return to the theme of disability and prosthetics next week, but for now here’s something completely different which has been brewing for a while. Regular readers of my blog will know that I started off playing D&D in the 80s with the BECMI boxed sets and Mystara gazetteers, then had a long break, … Continue reading Has magic become too ubiquitous? →

A history of skills in BECMI

"I'm going to chat up the barmaid. I roll Persuasion - look, it's a natural 20. I get her to come outside with me, and then I kill her and I get a free attack because she's surprised because I rolled that natural 20."Summary of incident at early session run by my son When I … Continue reading A history of skills in BECMI →

RPGaDay2020 Day 28: Close – close shaves in BECMI and 5e

The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 we looked at the flavour of potions and differences between versions of D&D. Today the theme is Close. Let's look at another difference between editions of D&D. Specifically the close shave. Those moments when characters almost die, but manage to survive. Back in the … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 28: Close – close shaves in BECMI and 5e →

RPGaDay2020 Day 27: Flavour – what do potions taste of?

The original RPGaDay2020 prompts graphic by @WillBrooks1989 Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 was about Strange and striking the balance between novelty and framework. Today we look at Flavour. I have to confess this is something I'm not very good at describing. I usually fall back to what the characters see; I should get better at using the … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 27: Flavour – what do potions taste of? →

RPGaDay2019 Day 18 – Plenty

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 →