Quick character motivations for adventuringWhen it’s impractical to indulge in a lengthy prologue
Ideally, for a long-term campaign, most player characters should have a reasonably well-developed backstory which details their motivations for taking up an adventuring life. But for … Read the rest
Anatomy of a dungeonA tomb viewed anew
When possible, a dungeon should tempt, challenge, engage and reward a full range of character classes. For example, a classic crypt or catacombs adventure may have traps and undead as its main … Read the rest
Adventures in nomenclatureClass titles and the reclamation of synonyms
What’s my class? Well, according to who you ask, I’m a 1st edition fighter/magic user, 2nd edition bladesinger, 3rd edition eldritch knight, 3.75 edition magus, 4th edition swordmage, and 5th … Read the rest
Genre and campaign world crossoversCue the cooking gas.
You’ve decided to mix things up. Whether through strange emissaries from a mystery shore, a plane shift gone awry, or a dark portal spilling mist, mutations and obligatory retrowave synth music, … Read the rest
Anatomy of an encounter tableBandits and badgers and owlbears, oh my.
There are a few considerations when designing random encounter tables, including theme, probability and challenge level. Random encounters are a useful way to provide theme and immersion. You … Read the rest
About the authorYes, this is written in third person.
This blog’s scribe is a curmudgeon, a grump, and a grognard, long in the tusks, and has an orcish sensitivity to daylight.
His GM career spans over three decades and … Read the rest
Magic shops as encountersShoplifters will be electrocuted.
If you absolutely must have magic shops in your campaign, then consider treating them as encounters, with appropriately powerful guards and wards for magic merchandise. The examples here, calculated using Pathfinder core … Read the rest
Character DeathCongratulations! You are now a murderer.
Be prepared for this eventuality from the start; decide on house rules and resurrection availability early based on the anticipated style and difficulty level of the campaign.
Be aware of how magic … Read the rest
Experience point rewards and level progressionThe point of experience points.
“Do we level up?”
“No, you need 1,300,000 XP. You only have 1,299,990.”
Experience points are a core pillar of an RPG, but there are a number of options … Read the rest
Politics, villains and other threatsA myriad dangers face the adventuring party. Monsters. Magic. Poor sanitation (after all, the primary purpose of a fine sewer system is almost always, and often inexplicably, … Read the rest
