How to Create a Chase Encounter That Actually Works
A chase encounter in D&D 5e is one type of dynamic encounter that changes the general structure of a typical…
A Look into the Recharge Mechanic in D&D 5e
I’ve been using a lot of elemental myrmidons in my homebrew campaign lately. They’re quite a lot of fun. They…
D&D Monster Monday: Gray Ooze
Your entire body is slowly being cooked alive in a living vat of acid. “The buddy system… now I understand…
Character Build: Oath of Conquest Paladin
I’ve played various editions of D&D throughout various stages of my life now. Up until 5th edition, though, paladins have…
D&D Monster Monday: Draegloth
This is usually the part of a Monster Monday article where I’ll write some fun flavor text about the creature. But today…
Common Saving Throw Abilities: What Are They and Why Should You Care?
If you’ve spent any time on online forums, Reddit, blogs, or hell, even here, you’ve probably heard something about Constitution, Dexterity,…
D&D Monster Monday: Quaggoth
You frantically dash through the pitch-black tunnel. You can hear sets of heavy feet galloping not far behind you, their…
Why Aren’t There More Bonus Action Cantrips?
This topic came to me as I was making my space cleric for a Hyperlanes campaign the other day. It’s essentially a…
What Level Should You Start Your D&D 5e Campaign At?
The hard part is over. You’ve done the initial prep for your campaign. You’ve assembled a party of adventurers (props to you…
Natural 1’s and 20’s on Ability Checks in D&D 5e
A common misconception in D&D 5e is that you have to roll for everything. Part of this I’m sure is because…
D&D Monster Monday: Giant Skeleton
You take the MacGuffin off of its pedestal. No traps, what a surprise! As you wipe the sweat from your…
After the Adventure: Dealing with Downtime in 5e
I’m a great DM. I have a solid grasp of D&D 5e’s rules and my group has a lot of…
Character Build: Gloom Stalker Ranger
Seriously, every Monster Monday I have to come across yet another creature that can see in the dark without repercussions. Hell, all…
D&D Monster Monday: Roc
You drop to your knees. There’s no point in running from a creature with a 200-foot wingspan. The roc, high…
D&D 5e Supplement Review: Auction Encounters
Auction Encounters is the latest D&D 5e supplement from Tyson VanOverhill of Double Crescent Productions. It’s an extensive primer on everything a DM needs…
Handling Wars and Large-Scale Combat in D&D 5e
Fantastic stories can come from wars or enormous battles. Heroes are made, villains are defeated, and friends are lost. Plot…
D&D Monster Monday: Girallon
Bowling was a frequent choice for birthday parties when I was growing up. However, it wasn’t the bowling that I…
D&D 5e Homebrew: Hero’s Shield
A strange shield made out of unidentifiable metals lies before you. Touching it fills you with a sense of courage,…
D&D Monster Monday: Imp
“What the hell?” you exclaim after a rat bites your leg. You stumble a few steps ahead and then feel…
Finding (and Using) Fantastical Familiars
Everyone needs a friend. Spellcasters are weird though and don’t like just any animal companion, they prefer familiars. Familiars are…
Examining the Weapon Properties in D&D 5e
What’s the difference between a shortsword and a longsword? Well, a lot actually, and it’s not just the flavor of…
D&D Monster Monday: Kelpie
You gasp for air, but only water fills your lungs. The seaweed-like appendages of the kelpie coils around you even…
What is a Level Dip in D&D 5e?
For better or for worse, D&D has a lot of mechanics. When you have a lot of mechanics you get…
The Basics of Dual Wielding in D&D 5e
Dual wielding two one-handed weapons is, I swear, one of the most frequently-used fighting styles in D&D 5e. And why…
D&D Monster Monday: Unicorn
“How dare you defile our sacred lands?”, roars the voice in your head. You run, gasping for breath, daring not…
Taking a Look at Line of Sight in D&D 5e
As you get more comfortable as a DM you tend to experiment a lot more. Your combat encounters are no longer just…
D&D Monster Monday: Merregon
How could this happen? Everything the spellcaster throws at them is shrugged off. These devilish soldiers, the merregon, keep pushing…
City Building for Your TTRPG Campaign
Cities, towns, villages, and other settlements are an integral part of any TTRPG campaign. However, a city is perhaps the…
How to Use Microsoft OneNote for Campaign Planning
There’s a holy grail for GMs. No, it’s not the perfect TTRPG system or anything like that. The holy grail…
How to Be a Tank in D&D 5e?
Being a tank is probably one of my favorite roles in RPGs. I love having that kind of control over…
D&D Monster Monday: Galeb Duhr
You feel the ground beneath you shake. Is it adrenalin? No, the quaking is getting worse! You look around and…
How Important is Balance in D&D 5e?
Achieving balance in D&D is no easy feat. It’s also one that I don’t believe gets enough appreciation. A balanced…
D&D 5e Character Build: Swashbuckler Rogue
Let’s just go ahead and call this week Swashbuckler Week! I recently played a one-shot as a swashbuckler rogue and immediately…
D&D Monster Monday: Okiti Swashbuckler
You feel a weight lifted off or your belt. Someone has stolen your coin purse! You look behind you to…
D&D Monster Monday: Wurm
You scream out as you hit the ground hard. The earth is shaking so viciously that you can’t regain your…
A Beginner’s Guide to D&D 5e Spellcasting
Controlling the elements, teleportation, raising the dead, and slinging deadly spells at your enemies. All of these are just some…
Movement in D&D 5e: Maneuver Your Way to Victory!
Movement speed in D&D is a mechanic that I feel a lot of us take for granted. In fact, whenever…
D&D Monster Monday: Pseudodragon
There it is, you’ve found it, the bounty the old wizard told you to find. A pseudodragon! As you approach…
Using the Search Action: Investigation or Perception?
We’re back at it again with another deep dive into a specific D&D 5e mechanic. This time it’s the Search…
D&D Monster Monday: Sea Spawn
“What’s happening to me!?” you scream as you feel your bones shift and turn. Your skin painfully twists and stretches….
Why Do So Few Creatures Have Vulnerabilities?
When I first introduced my friends to D&D 5e a frequent question I’d be asked was if a creature had…
What Are Temporary Hit Points in D&D 5e?
Temporary hit points or “temp HP” is a mechanic in D&D 5e that introduces the concept of absorbing damage into…
D&D Monster Monday: Goblin Boss
You go to run the well-armored goblin boss through with your rapier. In a flash, he is nowhere to be…
The Case for Low-Light Vision in D&D 6e
Recently I picked up Shadow of the Demon Lord and first of all, it’s fantastic and I can’t wait to get around…
Dodge, Dash, and Disengage in D&D 5e
Positioning is a huge factor in your character’s success in combat. More so than any amount of character optimization or min-maxing could…
D&D Monster Monday: Phoenix
A screech from above echoes throughout the volcanic valley as you desperately try to flee for cover. An enormous elemental…
Character Build: Great Weapon Battle Master Fighter
First and foremost we’re going to be a semi-tanky front-line character. We’ll be donning heavy armor and rushing into melee combat whenever…
How to Determine Your Secondary Ability Score
Your character’s secondary ability score is extremely important. It’s your second most useful stat, and in many instances is used…
What Happens After a TPK in D&D 5e
I hate it when a total party kill (TPK) happens. A TPK is exactly what it sounds like. The entire…
D&D Monster Monday: Gargoyle
You arrive just outside the entrance of the dungeon after a long and weary trek. You go to push open…