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Looking back at the goals I set twelve months ago, while it was not without challenges, the spirit of transformation was alive and well. And I succeeded on most of my goals too! Campaign Status: Leaving Hellspire Peak (Partial Success) My long-running campaign, which started years ago, has...

Know a tabletop gamer who loves dice? Of course you do! But did you buy them a gift? Here's some ideas. Please Note: If you're reading this now the timeline is likely tight, so your best bet is to ship it when you can and then blame Amazon for the delay. Polyhedral Christmas Dice ($8) These dice...

This wing (?) of dragon gifts are listed in price order from least- to most-expensive. Please Note: Amazon products vary in their listed price and availability, so if you want to buy these products as gifts, order early. Dragon Vent Clips ($9) Who doesn't want dragons on their vents? Also, they...

This list includes everything from hills to volcanic terrain, pillars to graveyards and mausoleums. Please Note: Prices are listed in least- to most-expensive. These are Amazon products so prices and availability may differ from what's listed here. Volcanic Tile ($7) This volcanic tile is made...

When Morrus first offered me this role, I took it begrudgingly. I wasn't sure I could handle the organizational weight of running a global team of writers while maintaining my own weekly column. But a funny thing happened: the work, the people, and the community drew me in. Eight years later...

The more Dungeons & Dragons and tabletop role-playing agmes becomes popular, the more the market has started to cater to us. There are now a lot more options for gamers that are RPG-adjacent. If you're not sure what to get your favorite gamer, take a look. They're listed in price order from...

Thanks to improvements in manufacturing, small publishers can now produce miniatures at scale. Here's a list for gamers who need miniatures at the table or are just starting out. Please Note: Products listed on Amazon fluctuate in price and availability, so if you want this in time for the...

Not sure what to buy your beleagured Dungeon Master this holiday season? Here's some ideas, presented from least to most expensive. Please Note: Links to Amazon change frequently, so expect price fluctuations from what's listed here and order early to avoid shipping delays. Damage Template...

For DMs looking to imbue their fantasy worlds with the gritty, relentless authenticity of a true industrial complex, there is no better real-world inspiration than the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts. Often overlooked, this small National Park preserves the...

In many fantasy RPGs, the defeat of a monster often marks the end of an encounter. Yet, for thousands of years, real-world cultures have demonstrated a profound understanding that every part of an animal serves a purpose. What if understanding monster biology meant more than just bags of XP? The...

Wagon trains are traditionally associated with the Wild West, but the trope can easiliy apply to fantasy campaigns too. Far from simple travel, these journeys were complex undertakings, fraught with peril and dependent on careful planning and collective resilience. For DMs looking to capture...

Nestled in the remote, rugged landscape of Cimarron, New Mexico, stands the St. James Hotel, now a living monument to the American Wild West. From its humble beginnings as Lambert's Inn in 1872, established by former Lincoln chef Henri Lambert, it quickly became a legendary stopover on the Santa...

Towering majestically over the Colorado landscape, Pikes Peak, known as "America's Mountain," is a treasure trove of inspiration for Dungeon Masters seeking to infuse their D&D campaigns with verticality, elemental peril, and the thrill of exploration. I visited it before summiting the Tooth of...

My visit to this Colorado landmark (before the Philmont hike) was a great way to acclimate ourselves to the new elevation and get inspired for my next D&D campaign. Earth: Petrified Colossi and Ancient Peaks At the heart of the Garden of the Gods lies a collection of towering, jagged rock...

Picture courtesy of Pixabay. Dungeons & Dragons' Dungeon Master's Guide offers various ways to check for random encounters, suggesting anything from once an hour to just once during a long rest. The standard method usually involves rolling a d20, with an 18 or higher (a 15% chance) indicating...

Learn to Play Dungeons & Dragons Saturday, October 25 and the First Saturday of every month Calling all adult adventurers (Ages 18 and up)! Join us to play the legendary tabletop game, Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition (2024 Rules). Whether you are a total beginner who wants to learn the basics...

Picture courtesy of Pixabay. Camping in the wilderness offers breathtaking vistas and unforgettable memories, but as I learned the hard way on my hike in Philmont, it's the multitude of small discomforts that truly wear you down. These aren't climactic monster battles, but the insidious grind...

Picture courtesy of Pixabay. This mantra echoes through the mind of any experienced backpacker, a constant negotiation between necessity and comfort, safety and speed. Extended wilderness trips demand meticulous packing, where every item is weighed, scrutinized, and often grudgingly left...

Picture courtesy of Pixabay. In theory, party order is a neat line where everyone stays in place. In reality, boredom, fatigue, and rough terrain can all conspire to break it up. The rigid lines drawn on paper rarely survive the messy reality of dynamic environments and human (or adventuring...

I learned a lot from my week-long, 30-mile trek through the rugged Cimarron, New Mexico backcountry, and the parallels between managing a hiking crew and guiding a Dungeons & Dragons party became strikingly clear. Just like an adventuring party navigating a dungeon, a group embarking on a...