How-To Run a Successful One-Shot Adventure

One of the most fun and engaging ways to play D&D is through a one-shot adventure. A one-shot adventure is a self-contained story that typically lasts for one session, usually around three to six hours. It’s a great way to introduce new players to the game, and it’s also perfect for more experienced players whoContinue reading “How-To Run a Successful One-Shot Adventure”

How-To DM: Balancing Encounters

As a Dungeon Master, one of the key responsibilities is to create encounters that are challenging and engaging for the players. Encounters can be anything from combat to puzzles, and they serve as a way to move the story forward and keep players invested in the game. However, creating encounters that are both balanced andContinue reading “How-To DM: Balancing Encounters”

Painting Update: Elven Bladesinger and New Etsy Purchase

Deer eaters, just a short Sunday post about what I’ve got going on. Let’s start with the Etsy Purchase. A freaking castle: It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It actually comes apart in layers for the players to adventure inside. I bought it from Centrion3D. I love their stuff, even if it is a little pricey. IContinue reading “Painting Update: Elven Bladesinger and New Etsy Purchase”

How-To DM: Character Backgrounds in Campaigns

Dear Readers, this is going to be an interesting post… Be forewarned. Let’s say you build yourself a marvelous campaign. You have a wonderful campaign world in which you have woven an epic tale of triumphs and failures. You have yourself a wonderful world waiting to be explored and a story just waiting to beContinue reading “How-To DM: Character Backgrounds in Campaigns”

Miniature Painting Spotlight: Pre-primed Hobgoblins…Sort Of

Readers, today we’re going to look at painting a couple of hobgoblins I’m going to be needing tomorrow for the Inglorious Ingrates. I’m going to provide a step-by-step process on how I’m going to go about painting these miniatures. As we are going to be dealing with miniatures that are already prime, we are goingContinue reading “Miniature Painting Spotlight: Pre-primed Hobgoblins…Sort Of”

Not a Player’s Perspective – How-To DM: When Things Go Awry

Our normal contributor for today is bogged down with work and exams from his master’s degree. Which is fine and totally understandable. This leaves me the ability to do another article today on something been thinking about. What do you do when your campaign gets derailed? We’ve all been there. You know what I’m talkingContinue reading “Not a Player’s Perspective – How-To DM: When Things Go Awry”

VERY Brief Painting Update: Goliath Barbarian

Hello, Dear Readers! It’s been one heck of a week, and it’s looking at being busier as my birthday is coming up this Friday (yay me!). Unfortunately, that means I didn’t get a lot of painting done this week (although I plan on having it for next Tuesday!). Here is the update on the Barbarian:Continue reading “VERY Brief Painting Update: Goliath Barbarian”

Staff Update: New Contributor!

Hello again, Dear Readers! I have awesome and wonderful news. As of this week, we have yet another contributor joining our staff, Riley! They have several articles out on the horizon and we are looking forward to see their content. Please welcome Riley to our awesome writing team. Additionally, as it [my Clan Invasion Kickstarter!]Continue reading “Staff Update: New Contributor!”

Painting Update: Short One, Because It’s Humid!

As many of you know, when you paint miniatures, it is necessary to have a nice try environment so that the miniatures will dry out and you can move on to the next layer. The problem here is that it is so hot and humid outside that the AC can’t keep up with my sunroomContinue reading “Painting Update: Short One, Because It’s Humid!”

Painting Update: Goliath Barbarian and Planetar

First off, I’m really excited about these two projects. In particular, I’m really excited about the planetar. I think he, in particular, is going to turn out particularly well. Not to say I’m not going to put forth my best effort on the goliath, but the planetar is looking good to me. First off, theContinue reading “Painting Update: Goliath Barbarian and Planetar”

How-To Play: Player Responsibilities

I’ve done a lot of articles on DMing, of course, and as I know that I have a lot of players that are Readers as well. As such, I’ve thought about this post for some time, and wanted to right it to address some things that many DMs have said that they wish their playersContinue reading “How-To Play: Player Responsibilities”

How-To DM: Strongholds & Businesses

One of the cool things about tabletop games, especially with D&D, is the idea that, during the course of adventures, the party can acquire (and sometimes “acquire” if you catch my meaning…) various things that aren’t traditionally considered treasure. What am I talking about? I’m talking about businesses and strongholds. Maybe the king granted theContinue reading “How-To DM: Strongholds & Businesses”

How-To DM: Converting Old Modules/Adventures

If there’s an activity that I enjoy as much as I enjoy miniature painting, it is the act of converting old modules. As I have detailed before, there’s an old adventure in Dungeon magazine issue 53, called “Clarshh’s Sepulchre” that is easily one of my most enjoyable modules to run. The best part of thisContinue reading “How-To DM: Converting Old Modules/Adventures”

How-To DM: Absent Players

We’ve all been there: you either have a regular session every week, or every two weeks, or even monthly. It’s scheduled out. But come the day of or the day before, and they cancel on you. Or, they just tell you they’re going to be gone that day and they can’t make that session. WhatContinue reading “How-To DM: Absent Players”

How-To Play: Types of Games

Dear readers, as you can see, I’m starting a new series called “How to Play.” I hope you enjoy it! Last week as well as last night I had the privilege of running a game for my daughter and several of her friends, all of whom are ladies whose ages range in age from 18Continue reading “How-To Play: Types of Games”

Miniature Restoration Project: Mistletoe

And some of you may remember, one of my favorite projects that I do that are miniature related is to restore my parents’ old pewter miniatures. Today, we have with us an old, what I believe, is a ranger. He might be something else, but I doubt it. In any case, his name is Mistletoe.Continue reading “Miniature Restoration Project: Mistletoe”

Painting Update: Paladin

So apparently my post from three days ago didn’t upload, so I find myself this morning editing my post. Lovely. In any case, here is what was posted originally, and you’ll get a bonus post in a few minutes… Good afternoon, Dear Readers, and welcome to another painting update! I finally remembered to grab theContinue reading “Painting Update: Paladin”

Painting Update: Rogue For My Wednesday Evening Young Peoples’ Group

You may remember that I had posted about an aasimar paladin that I had been working on for a player in this group. I had also posted before that about the other miniature I had planned on working on for the same group (at the end of the post). Long story short: the paladin isContinue reading “Painting Update: Rogue For My Wednesday Evening Young Peoples’ Group”

Ho-To DM: DMing Young People

Sorry for the late post…it’s been a busy day. I had a number of doctor’s appointments today, so please forgive me. Tonight, Dear Readers, was an awesome game. I’m not going to do a summary, although it would be great, but I will let you know that I am running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. But thisContinue reading “Ho-To DM: DMing Young People”

I’m Stuck…

Note: if you are one of my Tuesday campaign players, do not read this until after 11 pm tonight. Spoilers. Dear Readers, I find myself in quite the quandary. You see, I’m stuck. I have about a half dozen projects I’m working on and I’m stuck between them. I have to finish doing prep forContinue reading “I’m Stuck…”