New guest post by Brokk Martin. He has played D&D for over 30 years. Every game master has had that moment where they look at the pages of prep for game night go out the window in the first five minutes of an adventure. Although it is recommended to prepare for the session, there are times when you have to go off the cuff. Sometimes, the party goes into the dungeon and instead of going left or right, … [Read more...] about D&D Tips: Winging it Like a Dragon
RPG
Why do we love RPGs?
New guest post by Edwin McRae! I am going to put this to you. What if it’s about the gods? Yes, Aphrodite and Zeus, Thor and Odin. I’m speaking from a strictly western perspective and those are the two pantheons that arise in games time and again. Greek and Norse. These are the examples I’m going to draw on but there are many other divine influences besides them. They’re just the ones that tend to pop up in video … [Read more...] about Why do we love RPGs?
Writing Dragons: The Epic, and The Letdown
New Guest Post by Aaron R. Holloway We have all been a part of an RPG game or read a piece of writing where the DM or author has attempted to add dragons into the story because of their amazing and epic glory. We have all (hopefully) seen a situation where this worked wonderfully! Where everything from the clues, to the quest giving, to the final reveal and epic fight with the great dread wyrm was satisfying. We … [Read more...] about Writing Dragons: The Epic, and The Letdown
Our 7 Most Recommended Homebrew Rules for a Dungeons & Dragons Game
Guest Post by Ted, Chief Adventurer at SkullSplitter Dice Some campaigns prefer to use the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules exactly as printed. But every campaign is different. And for many campaigns, creating “house rules” can allow the game to be more fun and more interesting. Below, we’ve compiled the most popular “homebrewed rules” used by Dungeons and Dragons players and DMs. If you’re looking for … [Read more...] about Our 7 Most Recommended Homebrew Rules for a Dungeons & Dragons Game
History of the d20 RPG System
There are have been many gaming systems throughout the years. If you started to play around the year 2000, there's one that stands out more than others. The d20 system was introduced alongside the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons, but it quickly came to dominate the shelves of gaming stores across the road. Taking a look at how this system came to be - and where it eventually went - is a good way to begin … [Read more...] about History of the d20 RPG System
D&D Memes: Rogue Edition
Truth be told, Gord the Rogue is likely one of our favorite rogues due to nostalgia, but D&D is full of all sorts of rogues. In the earliest D&D edition, thief reigned supreme. Elves were also a character class, so who knows. All that aside, we're going to share some of our favorite D&D memes with rogues as the central focus. For those keeping track, we recently did the DnD Memes: Dungeon Master edition. … [Read more...] about D&D Memes: Rogue Edition
D&D Editions: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1985)
This is the third part in our ongoing series looking at all the D&D editions over the years. Enjoy! Original Dungeons and Dragons was a success on a scale that was hard to predict. It managed to be much more than a simple hobbyist's modification to an existing strategy game. It was a cultural phenomenon, one that was more restrained by its initial form than anything else. Dungeons and Dragons would have to … [Read more...] about D&D Editions: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1985)
Best D&D Books with Rogues
The rogue is one of the building blocks of a good D&D party. They can sneak, disarm traps, pick locks, and take care of many of those pesky social checks that crop up when you're out of combat. While most forms of media have great examples of rogues, some of the best exemplars of the class you'll find are in Dungeons and Dragons novels. The best of the best not only reinforce the knowledge players get from … [Read more...] about Best D&D Books with Rogues
Best D&D Books with Wizards
Here's our look at some of the best D&D books with mages, wizards, sorcerers, and more. Wizards are perhaps the most iconic of the character classes of Dungeons and Dragons. For good or ill, they're what most non-players think of when they describe role-playing games. While wizards are certainly quite powerful, they don't always get as much actual attention as they deserve. It might be because the concept … [Read more...] about Best D&D Books with Wizards
D&D Editions: Dungeons & Dragons Red Box Basic Set (1977-1995)
If you look at the current version of Dungeons and Dragons, you'll notice that it's labeled Fifth Edition. While it's clear that the preceding edition was Fourth Edition and that the version before that was the Third Edition, figuring out the Second Edition is a bit tougher. OD&D is certainly D&D first edition, but there were two competing iterations of the game between OD&D and Third Edition. While … [Read more...] about D&D Editions: Dungeons & Dragons Red Box Basic Set (1977-1995)
RPG Legends: Rose Estes
When most people think of RPG legends, they think of those authors who created games, settings, and memorable characters. Since so many of these settings have become living universes that outlived their creators, though, a huge debt is owed to those authors who helped to maintain and grow the worlds after their creation. One such author is Rose Estes, an author who not only helped to keep Greyhawk alive after Gygax … [Read more...] about RPG Legends: Rose Estes
D&D Editions: Original Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1977)
This is the first in a series of seven articles about all the Dungeons & Dragons editions over the years. If you've ever wondered about the history of D&D, keep reading! Dungeons and Dragons is a rare game that's been going for over four decades. Though it has grown and changed over that time, it's always clung to its roots. The original version of Dungeons and Dragons, now called Original Dungeons and … [Read more...] about D&D Editions: Original Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1977)