Category: Tabletop RPG Ramblings

20 Forest Encounters

Forests have long held a special place in our hearts, represented untamed nature and a glimpse into the past before concrete and asphalt covered much of the civilised world. In D&D the forests are the domain of the Elves and fey creatures who can be whimsical allies or deadly threats.

Below is a D20 table of people, creatures and events that your PCs might encounter whilst exploring the dark reaches of the forest.

Continue reading “20 Forest Encounters”

Session Zero Mapping

We recently did a session zero for our forthcoming OSE campaign set in a fantasy world loosely inspired by the feel of Colonial America, the heroes are the first of a group of pioneers who have arrived on boats in a recently revealed landmass once shrouded in great glaciers. As they adventure they’ll also be trying to help their village prosper and survive.

I love a session zero because it gives everyone a chance to get involved and invest in creating the campaign setting, of course you need to make sure your players are comfortable with that, but I’ve gamed with all of our players before and was sure they’d be up for it. Taking a tip out of the Perilous Wilds (a book designed for Dungeon World) I basically laid down the coastline, a river and the location of their village, we then alternated between us adding in areas and creating rumours related to them.

Continue reading “Session Zero Mapping”

Star Trek Tech and Treknobabble

In this episode Hannah talks about Star Trek technology and the effects it could have on your RPG:

The image used in this blog was taken from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=86466&picture=space-galaxy

A Tale of Two TPKs

As requested by Joe Richter of the Hindsightless podcast, in this episode we’re discussing the recently “double” TPK we had in my short-lived ICRPG campaign set in Greater Lunden and the surrounding Havenlands.

Continue reading “A Tale of Two TPKs”

The Mantari

In this Friend or Foe Friday episode we’re cracking open the AD&D 1E Fiend Folio (as requested by Colin Green of the excellent Spikepit podcast) and choosing a random monster to discuss, for this episdoe we’ve rolled the Mantari.

Check out the Spikepit podcast here:

Sequence of Play

In this episode we’re talking about the benefits of having a clearly defined sequence of play in your games, we’re referencing Old School Essentials by Necrotic Gnome.

If you want to check out Old School Essentials you can find their website here:

The basic rules for OSE are also available as a free PDF from DrivethruRPG:

Gunpowder in D&D

It’s Monday again and we’re talking gunpowder and primitive firearms in D&D, love them or hate them there’s a few things you need to consider when bringing them into your game:

If you want to pick up the free (no art) version of LOTFP you can find it here:

Firearm image from https://pixabay.com/vectors/antique-flintlock-gun-pistol-1297393/

Elementals

In this Friend or Foe Friday episode Hannah and myself are discussing those summoned denizens of the Inner Planes, the elementals.