Category: For the GM

  • DnDtober the 1st: Goblins

    Ah, goblins! The canon-fodder staple of many a D&D campaign. For most of gaming’s history, goblins have been little more than low-level XP sacks for beginning characters. I feel that goblins didn’t really come into their own until Paizo re-skinned them into the psychotic, fire-loving menaces they are in the Pathfinder RPG. So wonderful is…

  • GM Advice on YouTube

    I’ve become a huge fan of tabletop content on YouTube and other video services. I’ve certainly extolled the virtues of shows like Critical Role and The DM’s Craft in previous posts, and I’m always on the lookout for new shows in “GM Advice” vein. I’ve got three new ones which I watch regularly, and if…

  • Encounter Locations – Part 2

    Last time we talked about what inspires encounter location design, and how to start the process. Inspiration for an encounter location can really come from anywhere, so when you have an idea make sure to record it. You may not get to it right away, but it’s great to have a list of ideas on…

  • Encounter Locations – Part 1

    One of the things I’m enjoying about running a D&D 5e campaign is a return to setting creation. I talked a bit in an earlier post about the world I created for the campaign, and what a welcome change that was after years of pre-written material. As a busy GM I’m not knocking published material…

  • Idle Thoughts: Reading

    (Idle Thoughts are going to be shorter posts written off the cuff about stray gaming-related thoughts I have. They’ll be quick, and maybe not fully developed, just things that occurred to me and I felt like sharing.) So it occurred to me, as I’m working up the rough history of the world I’m creating for…

  • Real Life Mysteries for Your Game

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Halloween! Spooky mysteries and terrors abound, and it’s the perfect time of year to add a bit of mystery to your campaign. If you’re stuck for inspiration, trust in real-life to provide you with the puzzles you seek. The Voynich Manuscript Named after the Polish book seller…

  • Ten Maguffins for your Games

    Maguffin is a term for a motivating element in a story used solely to drive the plot. It serves no further purpose. It won’t pop up again later, it won’t provide resolution. Really, it won’t do anything except possibly distract you while you try to figure out its significance. The classic example is, of course,…

  • Getting Back in the GM’s Chair

    Tonight my Thursday Knights convene after our annual summer hiatus. We’re diving back in to the Jade Regent Adventure Path, just a smidge of the way into the first book. It can be tough coming back to your regular game after some time away, so I thought I’d share three tips to make the transition…

  • Many Happy Returns

    Life can be funny sometimes. In this case, not a ha-ha funny; more of a “didn’t expect to be here” funny. I have a new, permanent, full-time job in a field I love (I know, boo-hoo-hoo, right?), which has required me to put just about everything else on the back-burner as I get settled in…

  • GM Resources: One Page Dungeon Contest

    There is such a wealth of Game Master resources on-line, I often find something extremely useful and then lose track of it. The One Page Dungeon contest is one of those resources, and I’m indescribably happy to have found it again. The contest idea makes it cool enough: design an interesting dungeon (including map) which…