Bitheism, Clerics, and the Service Domain
I’ve read a lot Neil Gaiman over the years. While I like several of his works a great deal, it’s easy for me to pick my favorite – Anansi Boys. Not only do I love the style and subject, it tells a type...
View ArticleSacrificial Power and the Oath of Binding
Work on the world of the Zodiac and Far Realm continues with a bit of lore and a 5e archetype for paladin. The Oath of Binding is meant to represent paladins who seek out the dark items and creatures...
View ArticleHunting Monsters, Fancy Tools, and the Astral Covenant Ranger
A discussion on hunting some monster, and a look at the Astral Covenant archetype for rangers for use with D&D 5e. This is part of the ongoing series on the Zodiac and the Far Realm. The post...
View ArticleResource Management and the Starbroker Rogue
A look at some of the math and decisions behind the rogue class, and a new archetype for rogue as part of the ongoing series on the Zodiac and the Far Realm. The Starbroker Rogue is an enigmatic figure...
View ArticleMisread Magic #1 – Fronds, Magic Mussel, and Musty Step
Have you ever read something and had to do a double take? Of course you have. Now imagine that the magic spell you misread was a real thing. What exactly would it look like? Well, it might look...
View ArticleSchools of Magic and the Resonance Arcane Tradition
The last remaining class archetype for the continuing series on the Zodiac and the Far Realm. The Resonance Arcane Tradition for wizards focuses on creating crystals through alchemy that resonate with...
View ArticleGLOW, Long-form jokes, and Storytelling Payoffs
The second season of GLOW is around the corner, so let's look at a special moment from the first season and how we can learn great lessons for tabletop games from a single, long-form joke. The post...
View ArticleRelationship Maps and Social Progress
In the comments of this excellent article by Blake Ryan, I speak a little bit about some of the session zero stuff I use in the online game I run. As it turns out, the reason I haven’t yet written an...
View Article5e Magic Item Patterns for Alternate Crafting: Part Two
I don’t know if you know this, but there are a lot of magic items in D&D 5e. We’re talking into the hundreds. I was thinking I’d knock out a couple a week, but I obviously underestimated the amount...
View ArticleFive Magic Items with Spooky ATOMBments
A look at five magic items for use with D&D 5e that require something more than a standard attunement slot. Also, it's October so they are spooky! The post Five Magic Items with Spooky ATOMBments...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Humans
Humans are defined by their ambition more than other races in Dungeons & Dragons 5e. Humans are one of the shortest-lived races compared to the other common races. Where an elf or dwarf might see...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Dwarves
Roleplaying dwarves can be so much more than vaguely Scottish accents, drinking ale, and swinging an axe around. Today we are going to take a look at what drives dwarves and how you can quickly develop...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Halflings
Roleplaying a halfling lets you be a character who charms the hat off a wizard or lets their luck see them through a hairbrained scheme. While in earlier versions they were essentially hobbits ripped...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Dragonborn
If you’re anything like me, you dreamed about being a dragon as a child. The power, the freedom, the awesome scales! By choosing to roleplay dragonborn you can capture some of that magic and get to...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Goblins
Per special request by a reader, this week we’ll be examining how to roleplay goblins. Goblins are one of my favorite races, and one of my favorite words. Both smarmy and evil, comical and cruel,...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Gnomes
Gnomes. I never really got this race. They always seemed like magical halflings and I struggled to find a way to play them in my games as anything other than that. But while they share many...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Tieflings
Speak of the devil, it’s time for tieflings! Unlike half-orcs, half-elves, or other outsider races, roleplaying tieflings means dealing with the fact that the corruption that manifests in their bodies...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Aasimar
Aasimar are in many ways opposites to tiefling, but they share an important theme of being outsiders. While tieflings are branded by the actions of their ancestors, their lives are largely their own to...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Goliaths
Goliaths are one of my favorite races. These strong bois are adapted to the harsh environment they inhabit. Descended from giants, goliath culture is one in the same vein of many warrior cultures,...
View ArticleA Guide to Roleplaying Changelings
A Guide to Roleplaying Changelings Changelings are masters of blending in. They are perfect for the roleplayer who has too many characters buzzing around in their minds to be able to choose just one...
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