The Ultimate Guide to Running Holiday-Themed RPG Games: One-Shots and Campaign Ideas with Whimsy and Wonder
Holidays bring more than festive cheer—they're the perfect excuse to sprinkle some extra magic into your RPG sessions. Whether you're playing D&D, Pathfinder, or another system, holiday-themed games offer a unique opportunity to blend seasonal whimsy with high-stakes adventure. Let’s explore how to craft unforgettable...
The Traveling Troubadours: An All-Bard D&D Party
Imagine you’re walking into a tavern—not just any tavern, but one so raucous and lively that the floors vibrate with the stomping of feet, tankards slosh over with frothy ale, and laughter echoes off the rafters. Then you realize it’s not just one bard performing...
Elemental Destruction: Powering Up the Tarrasque with New Abilities
The Tarrasque in Dungeons & Dragons is a legendary monster—the kind of creature meant to bring kingdoms to their knees and lay waste to entire landscapes. With an AC of 25, massive HP pool, [caption id="attachment_43751" align="alignright" width="285"] The tarraque as seen in the fifth edition...
Zoo Mafia: The Grifter—Master of the Long Con
If Zoo Mafia were a play, the Grifter would be the star performer. Equal parts actor, con artist, and puppeteer, the Grifter is the crew’s face and finesse, weaving lies and spinning stories to get what the team needs. Whether you’re playing a smooth-talking orangutan,...
The Legend of Tarlokh, the Twin-Tides Leviathan
Ever stumbled across something in real life that immediately screams D&D inspiration? That’s exactly what happened when my son showed me a picture of a two-headed turtle. Naturally, my mind leapt straight to dragon turtles—those massive, mythical oceanic titans. But then the question hit me:...
Beware the Feast Golem: A D&D Thanksgiving Encounter Worth Gobbling Up
Thanksgiving in the USA is a time of togetherness, gratitude, and… battling a sentient, shambling construct made of food? Welcome to the chaotic world of the Feast Golem, a deliciously devious monster that combines the spirit of the holiday with the chaos of Dungeons &...
The Party That Smashes Together Stays Together: An All-Barbarian D&D Party
Picture this: you sit down at the gaming table, character sheets in hand, and your Dungeon Master says, “What if you all played barbarians?” At first, it sounds ridiculous. A party of nothing but raging warriors with axes and a penchant for shirtless heroics? But...
Unearthing the Under-Hollow Order: A Shadowy D&D Organization Born From a Player’s Backstory
Have you ever had a player come to you with a backstory so juicy, so loaded with hooks, that you couldn’t help but spin it into an entire campaign arc? That’s exactly how the Under-Hollow Order was born in my kids’ D&D game. This sinister,...
Zoo Mafia: The Safecracker—Unlocking the Crew’s Potential
You hear that faint click? That’s the sound of a Safecracker at work. If the Button is the team’s precision trigger, the Safecracker is the wizard of “open sesame.” Locks, safes, doors, and anything with gears and tumblers tremble at their approach. But there’s more...
When Trolls Go Wild: Bringing Troll Dolls into Your D&D Game
When most players think of “trolls” in D&D, they picture hulking, regenerating creatures that lurk under bridges, waiting to make a meal of the nearest adventurer. But what if I told you there’s another kind of troll, and they’re far more colorful, less murderous… and...
Unlocking the Secrets of the Threshold Nexus: A Guide for Players and Dungeon Masters
The Threshold Nexus is more than just a magic item for 5th edition D&D.—it's a storytelling tool, a utility belt, and a gateway to infinite adventure. Shaped like a miniature, intricately detailed door, this legendary amulet offers six distinct powers, each tied to the position...
Bunny Malone: The Subtle Seduction of Zoo Mafia’s Femme Fatale
In Zoo Mafia, a game powered by the Powered by the Apocalypse engine with custom rules, every mob boss has their own unique method of maintaining power. For Bunny Malone, it's all [caption id="attachment_89456" align="alignright" width="149"] Go Wild, Do Crime, but Don't Let the Humans Catch...
Culinary Spellcraft: Magic-Infused Ingredients for Your D&D World
There’s no better way to blend fantasy and flavor than with magical ingredients that bring a meal to life in a whole new way. Imagine a world where food isn’t just nourishment but a source of power, enchantment, or even danger! Dungeons & Dragons has...
Running a Frog Theme RPG Campaign
Creating a themed Dungeons & Dragons campaign can be a blast, especially when you build a consistent world with connected foes. Over the years, I’ve designed campaigns around fiends, undead, elementals, dragons, and more. It adds a cohesive feel to the adventure and helps players...
Charisma: The Art of Influence
In Dungeons & Dragons, Charisma represents more than just good looks or the ability to talk your way out of trouble—it’s about your force of personality, leadership, and how well you inspire, manipulate, or charm those around you. Whether you're playing a bard dazzling crowds...
