“Friends on the Other Side”: Bringing the Shadow Man into Your D&D Game
When it comes to charismatic villains steeped in shadow and mysticism, few are as captivating as Dr. Facilier, the Shadow Man from Disney's The Princess and the Frog. His sleight of hand, [caption id="attachment_45674" align="alignright" width="300"] The fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide describes...
Between the Grit and the Giggle: Balancing Comedy and Crime in Zoo Mafia
When you picture a hard boiled gangster story, you probably imagine trench coats, cigarette smoke curling in the air, and tension so thick you could cut it with a claw. But when your gang is made up of animals—like a jazz-loving giraffe, a button man...
Piatracas: The City of Smoke and Stone – Aether skies Floating cities
Forged in Steam, Hardened by War—The Industrial Heart of the Aether Skies High above the scarred world below, nestled within coils of perpetual smog and hammer-sparks, floats Piatracas—a city that never sleeps, never smiles, and never forgets. Home to the dwarves and those who admire their uncompromising...
Circle of Change: Comparing the 2014 and 2024 Druid Core Classes
From summoning storms to transforming into beasts, Druids have always walked the line between arcane might and primal savagery. But how does the Druid of 2024 compare to its 2014 predecessor? Check out the video over on Youtube where we get into it deeply, here....
Welcome to Balaria – The Iron Dome in the Black Sands
Far beyond the chaos-warped outskirts of Crystalia and the petrified sentinels of the Forest of Stone, a new city rises from the obsidian dunes like a forge-born titan. Welcome to Balaria, a brutalist marvel of steel and magic — where ambition is alloyed with danger,...
The Witch in the Tower: A Tangled-Inspired D&D Adventure
A vanished heir. A radiant tower lost in time. And a witch who lives forever in the light. Some towers keep their prisoners locked inside. Others keep reality locked out. Inspired by Tangled, this D&D adventure transforms the story into a dreamlike, high-stakes rescue mission set inside...
Personal Goals and Crew Tension: Internal Drama Done Right
The Underworld Ain’t Just About Enemies—Sometimes the Real Trouble’s Inside the Family When you sit down at the table to play Zoo Mafia, you're stepping into a gritty world of fur, feathers, and felony. Sure, there are bank jobs, speakeasy raids, crooked coppers, and rival families...
Embracing Eldritch Horror: Maintaining Mystery in RPG Campaigns
Using Dread, Sanity, and the Unknown Without Overwhelming Your Table [caption id="attachment_21598" align="alignright" width="300"] Aether, you know, that stuff that surrounds us...
Faith Refined: The 2014 vs. 2024 Cleric – A Mechanical Breakdown
The Cleric has always embodied divine authority in Dungeons & Dragons, serving as both protector and conduit of divine power. Whether you're turning the tide of battle with healing magic or channeling the wrath of your deity, the Cleric stands as a pillar of utility...
Mini Review: WizKids’ Mr. Potato Beholder – The Eye-Con of Tabletop Mayhem
When you stare into the void, sometimes the void stares back...
Into the Heart of the Forest: A Review of The Old Margreve by Kobold Press
When it comes to fantasy RPG settings, few manage to evoke the same sense of ancient mystery and primal danger as The Old Margreve. Originally a sleeper hit from Kobold Press, this updated edition is no mere reprint—it’s a verdant, living world that welcomes (and...
Welcome to Crystalia: Running a D&D Campaign in the Shimmering Bastion
Crystalia, the heart of the "Under the Dome" campaign setting, is a gleaming, chaotic-fearing metropolis that has stood firm for over a millennium. Encased beneath a magical dome that filters out wild magic and the worst of the monster hordes, this city is a multifaceted...
Voices of the Deep: A Little Mermaid–Inspired D&D Adventure
Whether you are a fan of the original or the live action remake this story has entertained many for decades. This is another story with magic and tragedy easily fitting into a D&D Story. Last week we ventured into the haunted castle and explored Beauty...
Planning the Perfect Score: GM Tips for High-Stakes Caper Sessions
Zoo Mafia Blog Series – Game Mastering the Underworld In the high-drama world of Zoo Mafia, few things are more thrilling—or more chaotic—than running a high-stakes heist. Whether your crew of criminal critters is knocking over a bank, hijacking a smuggler’s convoy, or infiltrating Owl Capone’s...
Rebellions in Color and Chord: Art as Resistance in the Sky Cities
How Creative Expression Becomes a Weapon Against Oppression in Aether Skies In a world where floating cities rise on towers of Aether and the surface festers with corruption and memory, art isn’t just decoration—it’s warfare. Across the skybound spires of the Aether Skies, culture is tightly controlled....
