Kenny Kings first met Paul Bellow during a long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign. They've been friends since then. Kenny hopes to use his gamer knowledge to entice “reluctant readers” who might prefer video games or movies over reading. By using books about being trapped in video games, Mr. Kings thinks he’ll be able to reach these reluctant readers. He's helping out with LitRPG Reads because of his journalism experience and love of gaming, especially Dungeons & Dragons. I am Spartacus! I am a wage slave! I am Paul Bellow!
We have all been there as Dungeon Masters. You find an incredible idea online or in a book, and you want to turn a D&D hook into a campaign that your players will talk about for years. The problem is that most …
D&D magic item balance is one of the quietest killers of long-term campaigns. It starts innocently enough: you want to reward your players for a tough fight, so you toss in a Bag of Holding. Then, because they leveled up, you add …
The disparity between martial classes and spellcasters, often termed the “linear fighter, quadratic wizard” problem, has plagued Dungeons & Dragons since its earliest editions. For decades, players have observed that while a Fighter or Barbarian swings a sword slightly harder at level …
In the labyrinthine alleys of tabletop roleplaying, Dungeons & Dragons reigns as a domain of self-invention and wild storytelling. At its core, the sprawling machinery of D&D leans heavily on the concept of alignment, a system that slices up morality and ethics …
Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, with more than 3 billion active gamers. Playing games has many benefits, from boosting mental health and building new relationships to reducing stress and enhancing cognitive function. If you’re eager to …
Drop your binders and breathe deep: this is not another ode to color-coded notebooks or painstakingly balanced encounter charts. Instead, picture an evening where you arrive at the table armed only with dice, vibes, and a reckless sense of adventure. Zero-prep D&D—yes, …
When most Dungeon Masters hear that a table will have six players, a familiar image springs to mind: side conversations spiraling out of control, combat rounds that drag on into the night, and the DM’s voice barely rising above the clamor of …
To walk in a Drow’s boots—soft, soundless, spider-leather—means embracing contradictions. The Drow are creatures of shadow and sophistication, their legends knitted from strands of intrigue, ambition, and ancient pain. When you choose to play a Drow in Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e, you’re …
Tabletop roleplaying games thrive on the tapestry of relationships woven between adventurers and the denizens of their worlds. Yet, for all the drama that simmers in musty taverns and on windswept battlefields, the mechanics that govern how NPCs feel about players can …
When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons, few rituals match the primal excitement of rolling a handful of DND dice across the table. The soft clatter, the anxious anticipation, the celebration of a natural 20—dice are more than just randomizers; they’re the …
Imagine the hush that settles over a table just before a Dungeon Master pushes forward a portrait of the villain, their cunning eyes rendered with eerie, magical clarity. Picture the moment the party turns a parchment-thin map, newly conjured through algorithms, over …
The shriek of a thrown plan echoes through every DM’s soul at least once a session. You’ve spent hours crafting intricate encounters, fleshing out atmospheric backdrops, and foreshadowing devastating plot twists—only for your adventurers to interrogate the barmaid you named in passing, …
There’s a magic in watching a player’s eyes light up when their character’s history suddenly becomes central to a campaign’s unfolding drama. As the tools of the tabletop—dice, minis, maps—evolve, so too do the ways we create our heroes’ origins. The rise …
…(And How Smart DMs Avoid Them) Building a killer world for your tabletop campaign? Hell yeah. But even the most epic realms can fall flat if you’re not careful. Maybe you’ve dumped a lore book on your players and watched their eyes …
The introduction of One DnD marks a transformative period for Dungeons & Dragons, fundamentally reshaping the game without launching a full 6th Edition. Instead, this ambitious update aims to refine and expand upon the existing 5th Edition framework, building on its strengths …
Welcome to a realm where creativity meets chaos, and the mundane transforms into the magnificent! As players step into the enchanting embrace of this magical dungeon, they will find themselves not just battling foes or deciphering puzzles but engaging with a kaleidoscope …
Unleash your inner rage with the ultimate D&D Barbarian build! Forget subtle tactics; you’re here to smash things, take names, and lose them again because, let’s face it, logic is for wizards. Pump that strength, forget your AC, and let chaos reign!
The allure of magic has captivated human imagination for centuries, from the enchanting tales of ancient folklore to the spellbinding worlds crafted by modern fantasy authors. The concept of integrating magical properties into everyday utility tools promises a fascinating blend of the …
Creating a character in Dungeons & Dragons is akin to crafting a fine dish that tantalizes the senses and leaves a lasting impression. Just like a skilled chef knows the importance of using fresh, high-quality ingredients, a D&D player should be aware …
The imposing shadow of the necromancer’s tower looms large, its eerie presence casting a pall over the land. This is no common fortress. It is a sinister bastion crafted from dark magic and ancient bones—a place where the dead refuse to sleep …
He also developed and runs LitRPG Adventures, a set of advanced RPG generators powered by GPT-3 AI. Here at LitRPG Reads, he publishes articles about LitRPG books, tabletop RPG books, and all sorts of DND content that's free to use in your personal tabletop campaign - i.e. non-commercial use.