After last years announcement we finally have our first look at what the future of Dungeons & Dragons hold in the form of One DnD!

In this first of two parts we wanted to give our first impressions regarding the updates to Races, Feats and Character creation as a whole with a look at the rules and more specific changes in part 2!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If money was no factor what would you dream TTRPG game space look like? What do you wish you had the money to buy?

But perhaps the real question is can money buy you a better game to begin with? Or do props, minis and fancy tables fall to the wayside when compared to a good story told collectively with your friends!


Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

While we talk about other systems and try to keep our advice more general it's no secret that we have a preference for 5e. But why is that exactly?

This week we take some time to go over what we love about 5e and why we all gravitate towards it as our default system!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Appendix N used to be a staple of older editions and a place where some of the original inspiration for Dungeons & Dragons could be found.

While it might not be there anymore, if you could make your own and add it back into the DMG or PHB what would you list there? What books, movies and mythos would you want to include to share with others? Perhaps it's part of your homebrew setting or just something you find fascinating and want to share with others!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Every DM has a collection of go to monsters but which is your favorite? WHat monster do you like to run the most or think brings the most to the table?

This week we talk a bit about what we like to throw at our players and why they are our favorite.

What is the best way to use powerful artifacts in your games? More than that what types of artifacts are underused and can really help spice up a game?

This week we take some time to go over our favorite tricks and uses for such items to help liven up the loot our players get at the end of a session or epic boss fight!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

There are countless systems out there which cater to a variety of different play styles . . . but can you play them without a dedicated DM/GM?

Is it possible to run something like 5e or Pathfinder in a collaborative fashion with people taking turns at the helm? Would that even be fun? Or is that better left to systems designed for such things from the start like Wanderhome, Fall of Magic, or maybe Ten Candles?

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

With the announcement of (and at the time of recording rumor) a new spelljammer book - we thought it might be a good time to talk about what content we would like to see released in the world of TTRPG's.

Was spelljammer something we wanted to see from Wizards? Or could there have been a need for something else instead?

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

As a dungeon master we often have to make some hard calls during a session. But should those include telling a player their character wouldnt or couldnt do something they thought of?

Can you tell a low inelegance character they wouldnt have a certain idea? Can you tell a low strength character they cant attempt a certain feat of athleticism? Are those even in the same category? 

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

1... 2 ... 3 ... 4 too many players ha ha ha -- or maybe it's too few?

Terrible Sesame Street jokes aside, today we discuss the number of players in your game and the considerations you should take when creating or expanding a group.

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It can take a lot of effort to put together and run a game of D&D, or any TTRPG for that matter. But if you're new to DM'ing what should you expect? How much time does it really take and is it something you can make happen?

This week we talk a little about what goes on behind the screen and offer some advice on how to lessen the burden of running the game and some of the hidden bits of work that you might not have thought about lurking in the shadows.

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Maybe you just wrapped up session zero, maybe they just leveled up or perhaps it's just been a few weeks since either. Should you as the DM take a look at your players character sheets and give them a quick once over just to make sure everything is in order?

Or is that just more unnecessary work on your end? You can trust your players to manage at least that much on their own right?

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

With gold no longer being the primary source of experience and leveling characters as it once was does it even function well as a motivator?

Sure, every character wants to find gold to buy potions or magic items but at that point why not just reward them directly? Or does it still serve a valuable, motivating, purpose in TTRPGs? How best should you utilize it to ensure players want to go out of their way to acquire it for more than just a shiny new item.


Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Another year, another set of TTRPG resolutions and a chance to turn a new page! So while 2022 is still young we wanted to not only share ours but reflect on how our previous resolutions ended up going.

What about yours? Were you able to finish that game? Build more terrain? What do you want to get done this year?

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Be it as the DM or a Player we've all shown up for a session, ready to continue our grand adventure only for it to be called off or delayed at the last moment when "life" gets in the way for someone...

But should we just play this week a man down? Should we implement a cut and dry policy for when and if a session will be cancelled at the DM? Is it better to just deal with it this week, surly it won't happen again? These are our questions for this week as we attempt to address all of these points and more when it comes to actually running our game!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this year and review of the TTRPG scene we offer our thoughts on all the official Wizards releases you may not have checked out yourself as well as shout out a few of our favorite zines and independant products we think are worth taking a look at!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If you haven't already seen the discussion online... Wizards recently announced several revisions to their books. But they also applied these changes to the online only versions, namely those on DnD Beyond, forever changing the content you paid for.

Is this something they should be allowed to do or does it set a bad precedent for things to come? Should they offer digital downloads of the pre edit version? Are people overreacting or is this anti consumer no matter which way you cut it?


Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

There is a certain stigma which surrounds the discussion of railroading players of running a linear story in a campaign . . but are they even the same thing?

Surly you can design and run a more linear game without forcing your players down one path or taking away their agency. In the end it might even be what most groups are playing without realizing it!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

One Shots. . . We've all played in them, and have all been told they are the perfect place to first try your hand at running the game as a DM. But what should you include in them? What are the most important things to focus on? What makes it good?

Since we only have so much time to prep and even less time to actually run it we thought we'd offer some insight into what we believe are the most important aspects to focus on to maximize both player enjoyment and hopefully make for a memorable experience for all!

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We've all whipped up a dozen or so level 15-20 characters trying to make the perfect Paladin or the perfect Wizard. But how often do those see the table?

If your groups are like most, they'll never even see the table at level 10 let alone 15-20. Is this a problem with 5e itself? Or is it more so an issue of a lack of high level content and trouble finding long running groups?

Obliteration Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/