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I usually like to figure out the over-arching themes that I want the campaign to focus on, and hard-wire them into the first adventure. In other words: the first adventure needs to set up what the campaign is going to be about. If it's an exploratory hex crawl, the game starts with the PCs...

I encourage all DMs and groups to try different systems than D&D, even if it's just for casual one-shots. It's less about pilfering specific mechanics for your D&D games and more about perspective. Learning other games systems give a great insight in how different games solve the same or...

Becoming a good DM requires dedication and effort, but I wouldn't expect it to be "hard" for most people interested in being DMs. Some (or most) may struggle with one or more of the core DM skills, but can usually gain a modicum of proficiency given enough practice. There isn't any secret to...

d4 = Unsatisfying d6 = Classic form, stacks well into little towers on the table for when the GM is blathering on about some backstory crap. d8 = Not bad, like a d6 but worse (but hey! 7's & 8's!). d10 = More pleasant to roll than the d8, feel better in pairs than just about any other die, save...

Wild magic as a zone or environmental feature is great. It can add fantastic theming and fun rebalancing to a dungeon. Wild magic as a character shtick seems like it should be a thing as there are tons of literary examples of spellcasters that are barely in control of their magic. I didn't...

Simulation in gaming means an attempt to a realistic or at least consistent model of a world, given a set of assumptions or premises. In GNS theory, the simulation advocates are the ones that want to use the game to be transported to a virtual-reality world of understandable rules and...

I do agree that is absolutely imperative to be prepared for any potential result when you call for a roll as a GM. I also agree that it's easy for GMs to fall into to "ehh, just call for a check" mindset. I think it might be a "we're not playing the game if we're not rolling dice" type of...

I aspire to have only meaningful, interesting outcomes for dice rolls, regardless of the result, but sometimes it isn't always possible. Losing a potential advantage, asset or bit of knowledge is a legitimate consequence of a failed roll, even if "nothing happens" from the perspective of the...

I'd seriously consider one of the Gothic House adventures: Castle Amber, Tegel Manor or Castle Xyntillan (my personal favorite of the three). A group of characters attempting to delve into the mysteries of a bizarre and horrific haunted space, complete with eccentric NPCs and strange monsters...

I always thought there was a distinct difference in when to apply player skill or character skill. The player gets to decide what their character does, including the methods or tactics they attempt. They are in the driver's seat. They act and react as they believe their character would, but...

As a player, if I feel the need to map a dungeon, I use little boxes for rooms/areas with a descriptive label (such as "Statue" or "Orcs", or "Dark Chasm") so I can remember what's there. Hallways/connectors are lines. Pretty much a simple node map. It's pretty rare where more detailed mapping...

You can have both easily enough. Even a well-designed and well-hidden trap might be given away through the inevitable decline of centuries of age (pressure plates not aligning as flush as intended or creaking to life slower than intended) or through its previous handiwork (corpses, scorch marks...

100% agree. Give the players choices at some point in the process. Part of that might be letting them know there is a trap and let them figure out how to avoid triggering it. "Hmm, the floor is trapped...can I levitate over to the other side and pull the deactivation lever or perhaps someone...

I voted for Milestones/Fiat/1983... Generally, I favor quest/adventure rewards over individual encounter or challenge rewards. Oh, we need to get the MacGuffin of Ultimate Usefulness? Let me figure out how to do that in whatever way I want and reward us when the party is successful. XP for...

In a d20 system, a natural 1 is usually always a fail and a natural 20 is usually always a success; though I skip rolling if I think the end result is a foregone conclusion. Also, I view dice results as the vagaries of luck, fate or what have you and not indicative of PC skill. So when...

For 5e, I'd say 3-4 sessions of about 4 hours. Add a session or two if the scenario has heavier roleplaying or requires additional exposition to set up campaign detail. Levels 1-2 in 5e are generally training-wheel levels and can easily be skipped. They are most useful to allow new players to...

A published campaign setting: 1. Serves as a backdrop to play in, hopefully adding verisimilitude and texture. 2. Helps create a shared understanding for the DM and players (i.e. helps get everyone on the same page). A DM saying: "You are in Waterdeep" or "a Red Wizard stands before you" can do...

I've always taken Old School Rules systems to be adaptations and derivations of OD&D, Holmes, B/X and BECMI. These might be direct retro-clones that attempt to adhere closely to the rules (ala OSE) or be comprehensive remakes (ala Shadowdark). There is a huge amount of latitude even within...

OSR plays just fine without a hyper-fixation on inventory. Never let rules you don't like ruin your gaming.

One of the major joys of RPGs is playing a character other than yourself. Doing something because it's what your character would do is essentially the game. However, it should never be used to justify obnoxious, toxic or narcissistic behavior towards other players. My self-imposed guidelines...