LitRPG Reads: RPG + DnD + Books = LitRPG

Every Official D&D 2025 Character Background Explained (And How to Build Your Own)

Illustration of a female knight in ornate armor with a fur-trimmed cape, exuding the confidence of a Dungeons & Dragons hero. A castle and soldiers with red flags stand behind her, set against a colorful, watercolor-like backdrop.

Imagine diving into a world where your Dungeons & Dragons character is much more than a collection of stats and abilities. As of 2025, D&D has evolved significantly, focusing on empowering players with customizable backgrounds. It’s all about giving you the freedom …

How to Design Memorable D&D Quests That Your Players Will Never Forget in 2025

by Kathy Stone

A determined woman with flowing hair and a blue scarf stands atop a snowy mountain, evoking the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons. She is surrounded by ancient ruins and vibrant, colorful clouds illuminated by a radiant sunburst.

Welcome to the vibrant world of tabletop RPGs in 2025, where storytelling continues to thrive and evolve in exciting ways. As we step into this year, Game Masters (GMs) have access to a wealth of tools and resources that were unimaginable just …

The Best High-Level D&D Monsters to Challenge Your Players in Epic Campaigns

by Isaac Hanson

An epic fantasy scene depicts a giant, bearded warrior with a sword engulfed in lightning, confronting a smaller figure on rocky terrain. Stormy skies and mountains amplify the dramatic, illustrated battle reminiscent of DND adventures.

When you’re smashing through a high-level Dungeons & Dragons game, regular foes just don’t cut it anymore. You’re looking for those epic monsters—those beasts that push you to the edge of your seat. High-level monsters bring that “wow” factor and test the …

The Best Low-Level D&D Encounters for Dungeon Masters to Challenge New Players

by Heidi Jiang

In a misty, eerie landscape, a DND warrior with a sword confronts a looming, monstrous creature with glowing eyes. Other shadowy figures lurk in the background, and discarded swords are scattered across the tabletop RPG scene.

For Dungeon Masters (DMs), creating captivating encounters for low-level parties in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is as important as a knight carrying a trusty sword. Low-level players are just starting out on their grand adventures, so they need thrilling but manageable challenges. …

How to Improvise as a DM: Tips for Staying Cool When Players Go Off-Script

by Ken Chan

Comic-style image of two elven characters with surprised expressions against a backdrop of flames and debris. Perfect for a TTRPG adventure, the scene is dynamic, with one character reaching forward with a sword, while the other gazes on in wide-eyed amazement.

Imagine you’ve spent hours crafting the perfect Dungeons & Dragons session. Your plot is tight, every encounter perfectly balanced, and the NPCs are lined up like pieces on a chessboard. But then, your players decide to befriend the grumpy troll you had …

Building a Balanced D&D Party: How to Create a Well-Rounded Team for Any Adventure

by Emily Thorne

Three fantasy adventurers stand in a dark forest. One wields a flaming sword, another crosses their arms, and the third, with blue skin, levitates a glowing die. A castle looms under a twilight sky—a scene straight from a Pathfinder RPG session.

Ah, Dungeons & Dragons. This age-old game is not just about rolling dice and fighting dragons. No, it’s about crafting epic adventures with a band of characters as diverse as the sentences in a bestselling novel. You might think, “Hey, let’s just …

D&D Etiquette: 8 Unwritten Rules Every Player Should Follow for a Better Game

by Ana Libanski

A determined fantasy warrior with a sword stands ready in a vibrant medieval village, reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons setting. Hes surrounded by snarling goblins, with detailed wooden buildings and tattered banners in the backdrop. The scene is set in dramatic, illustrated style.

Imagine entering a world where dragons soar above and magic is as real as the air you breathe—welcome to Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a realm of endless adventures. But here’s the thing: while this imaginative game boasts a vast array of rules …

Top 5 D&D Modules for Beginners: Perfect Adventures to Start Your Campaign

by Amir Barakat

Illustration of a fantasy elf with braided hair, wearing armor and a cloak, standing in a dimly-lit cave. The scene evokes the mystical atmosphere of a Pathfinder RPG adventure, with wooden chests and torches lining the rocky passage.

Entering the ancient realms of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) for the first time can be a thrilling yet daunting experience. The clatter of dice, the richness of imaginative storytelling, and the camaraderie around the table make it incredibly appealing. Yet, without the …

D&D Jargon and Terms Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Game

by Ajay Patel

Illustration of a woman with red hair in a bun, wearing a hoodie and jacket, sitting at a desk with an open book and colorful dice. Shes in a room with gaming sheets and a DM chair, deep in the world of DND as an imaginative Dungeon Master.

Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D as the cool kids call it, is a game that whisks players away on fantastical adventures filled with magic, mystery, and a mountain of strange words and abbreviations. Step into a game session, and it might feel …

Meta-Gaming vs. Roleplaying: How to Keep D&D Players From Breaking Immersion

by Paul Bellow

A fantasy elf warrior, steeped in the world of tabletop RPGs, holds a glowing book titled Secrets the DM Doesnt Want You to Know. He stands in a dungeon with arched ceilings, skeletal statues, and a treasure chest. A speech bubble echoes the books title: DND secrets revealed.

As Dungeon Masters (DMs), we strive to craft enthralling tales and create immersive worlds where D&D adventurers can delve into mysterious dungeons, battle fearsome foes, and uncover hidden treasures. Yet, there’s a lurking specter in the realm of tabletop gaming that threatens …

Unraveling the False Hydra: A Step-by-Step Guide to Running This Mind-Bending D&D Horror

by Amir Barakat

A warrior stands in a swamp, sword in hand, facing a multi-headed serpent monster reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons quest. The creatures heads loom menacingly before a full moon, while swamp trees and fog weave an ominous atmosphere.

Imagine being part of a world where your friends, family, or even you, could vanish without a trace, yet no one remembers they ever existed. That’s the eerie and terrifying nature of the False Hydra, a monstrous entity in Dungeons and Dragons …

Why Smart DMs Steal Player Ideas: Lessons from a Grumpy Old-School DM

by Kenny Kings

A bearded man sits in an armchair in a dimly lit, cluttered room, engrossed in the Monster Manual from Dungeons & Dragons. Clad in a fur-collared coat, hes surrounded by bookshelves and an eerie atmosphere, embodying the essence of ttrpg storytelling.

Meet Dave the DM. Imagine an old warrior from a forgotten realm of tabletop gaming. With more years behind the screen than most of us have been alive, Dave is a legend in his own right—a Dungeon Master with an iron grip …