Session Prep Tooling

I've been thinking about how I prepare for my D&D sessions, and I feel there must a tool that would help. Before I start, here's a review of what I do now, and what any tool would have to give me.

What’s the value of Worldbuilding?

It’s July, and that means it’s time for WorldAnvil’s annual Summer Camp of worldbuilding. Over the last few years I have diligently taken part, but after last year I started to wonder whether it was worth the time and effort. Time to consider the pros and cons.

Running a City (in your TTRPG)

How do you run a city? I’m not talking about advice to mayors and city councillors. This is a role-playing game blog, after all. I’m talking about making a city the centre of your campaign and adventures. Regular readers of my blog will be aware that my current campaign is based in the city of … Continue reading Running a City (in your TTRPG) →

Beating the GM Writer’s Block

Do you get GM Writer's Block? When you sit down to prepare and just stare at the page? Here's a discussion of some techniques which helped me prepare for my TTRPG game, with thanks to @SlyFlourish, @ubiquitousrat, @roleplayingtips and @HeroicMaps

RPGaDay2020 Day 17: Comfort – how often do/should you push yourself out of your comfort zone?

The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I discussed making your descriptions dramatic. Today the theme is Comfort, and I'd like to look at Comfort zones. Everything is challenging to start with - think about your first day at school, or your first driving lesson, or your first time creating a … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 17: Comfort – how often do/should you push yourself out of your comfort zone? →

When did random encounters become unplanned battles?

Cloaked person holding a chest and facing a dragon

Preparing with situations and characters

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 →

HotDQ – raider camp encounters

Man in shackles with foes in the background

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 →

D&D Gamesmaster Resources

As I prepare for my games, I develop situations and backgrounds and characters for the sessions and modules I'm going to run. I realise these may be useful to others as well, so this section is a collection of mini-modules and encounters I have prepared which you are welcome to use, crib off, use as … Continue reading D&D Gamesmaster Resources →