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Author: Ted Adams

Nerdarchy > Articles posted by Ted Adams (Page 5)

Gladiators, Racers, and Rogues: Non-Combat Challenges in TTRPGs

How to make skill-based, narrative-driven encounters as thrilling as combat. Tabletop RPGs are often defined by their combat mechanics—but what about the high-stakes, high-tension moments that don’t involve a single sword swing? [caption id="attachment_28702" align="alignright" width="192"] Arguably the most famous mul in D&D lore, Rikus was a...

9 d6 dice with custom images of Owl Cappone, Machinegun Otto, and Carlo Hambino from the Zoo Mafia RPG

Behind the Velvet Curtain: Designing and Using Speakeasies in Zoo Mafia

In Zoo Mafia, a well-designed speakeasy is more than a backdrop for illicit deals and late-night jazz—it's a narrative engine, a hotbed of gossip, power, and danger wrapped in velvet and smoke. [caption id="attachment_89887" align="alignright" width="298"] Zoo Mafia RPG Black Ops Edition[/caption] Whether you’re running a gritty,...

Races of Resistance: Creating Unique Playable Races for a Gritty Setting

How to Build Grounded, Adaptable Species for Darker, Wilder Worlds In gritty, post-apocalyptic, or chaos-wracked settings, traditional fantasy races can sometimes feel out of place. Elves who live for 700 years and perfect art forms don’t always mesh well with rusting spires, toxic rain, and mutant-hunting...