Recent content by Rune

It’s Nicholas Cage. How could it be bad?

Also, we use spoiler tags in Iron DM tournament judgements to conceal the outcomes of judgements from premature revelation (since we also use @-summons). We also encourage spectators to use them when commenting on ongoing matches so that the judges can approach each entry with fresh eyes. Of...

I get it. As a player, I’ve definitely gone out of my way to make sure a dead NPC wouldn’t have a body left for raising (out of sheer pettiness, even). But, in a world with true resurrection, that still doesn’t mean they’re definitely gone for good. Although (on the DM side of things) turning...

I had a thread about this once upon a time. It predates 5e (or at least some of it does), but is still relevant to any system, really. Here it is: Full-Time DM, Part-Time Prep

The thematic stuff was one thing. I’m not unique in my preferences. But the echoed technique really made me question things. Not just that a foreign language was used for names that hint at NPCs’ roles, but that the language chosen was also German! A remarkable case of parallel thinking (offset...

As this year’s champion, you will have automatic entry into the next tournament so that you can defend that title. Your work is quality, so I’d say you have a good shot at a streak.

Congratulations to IRON DM 2025 @AustinHolm!

I expect you’ll get an @-summons when the time comes.

There were a few that were ok with good parts. One that is actually good (the one written by Jim Rash). Most I skip entirely because they were trying too hard to emulate the weird without understanding the characters or the story-structure that gave Harmon’s work its heart. And one that’s just...

Given that I was heavily invested in the show because it was really well done (excluding most of season four, of course), I’m not sure there’s a difference.

Leverage had a satisfying ending that paid tribute to its origin in a nice full-circle kind of way. I also think the Community ending was poignant. Still waiting on that movie, though.

@AustinHolm and @Fenris-77, my judgement for the championship match has been posted.

Rune’s Judgement for IRON DM 2025 Championship Match: AustinHolm vs Fenris-77 Overview At last we come to the culmination of this tournament. Both entries are polished and well-presented. One seems tailor-made to appeal to my tastes to such a degree that I have to wonder if its author...

Just to clarify: the anthology was always meant to collect entries with an eye toward use at the table (especially on short notice). It never attempted to collect entries that were best at being Iron DM entries (many didn’t even win their matches). For that reason, elements important to the...

IRON DM 2025: Round 3, Championship Match, AustinHolm vs. Fenris-77 @AustinHolm and @Fenris-77, you have 48 hours to post your entries to this thread. Please limit your entry to a title, a list of the ingredients used and 2000 additional words. Please include your list of ingredients at the...