Chilling Death and Bone-Crushing Doom: The Ultimate Devil Duo Encounter
When running a high-level Dungeons & Dragons game, it can be tempting to throw one big monster at your party and call it a day. But why settle for one when you can unleash the terrifying synergy of an Ice Devil and a Bone Devil...
Crafting Dangerous Terrain: From the Sea of Blades to the Bog of Eternal Acid
In the unforgiving world of Under the Dome, terrain itself can be a lethal adversary. Whether it’s the jagged, ever-shifting dunes of the Sea of Blades or the caustic quagmire of the Bog of Eternal Acid, the environment shapes not only how battles are fought...
3 New Ways to Use Tritons in a D&D Campaign
Tritons, the guardians of the deep, often appear as noble protectors of the seas in Dungeons & Dragons. However, their potential extends far beyond their traditional role as aquatic defenders. Let’s dive into three unique ways to use Tritons in your campaign, giving them depth...
Inspired by Powered by the Apocalypse: Why Zoo Mafia Stands Out
When it comes to modern tabletop RPGs, few systems have had the same impact as Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA). Known for its narrative-forward approach and flexible mechanics, PbtA has become the foundation for many innovative indie games. Zoo Mafia builds upon this legacy, combining...
Navigating the Surface: Survival in a Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy World
In the world of Aether Skies, the surface is more myth than memory—a cursed, overgrown graveyard full of ruined cities, forgotten gods, and things that don’t stay dead. While the floating cities drift safely above the clouds, the world below festers in darkness, twisted by...
Welcome to the Circus, Kids! – A Multi-Part Encounter with the Joker Dragon
This blog post expands on the Joker Dragon with a full encounter arc that can span a single long session or a mini-arc across multiple game nights. You can read about the Joker DRagon in last weeks post here. Your players will go from unsettling...
The Monstrous Chuul: Expanding the Horror in Your D&D Game
In the murky depths of ancient ruins, along the edges of eldritch swamps, or lurking beneath the seas of your Dungeons & Dragons world, the Chuul is a terror waiting to strike. These crustacean horrors, created by the aboleths as their hunters and enforcers, combine...
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...
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,...
Dreamscapes and Nightmares: Designing Memorable Dream Realms
I love diving into characters dreams when I play D&D and other tabletop RPGs. It is a clear way to bring out back story and work on those charcter goals and plot points. And at times it can even [caption id="attachment_59059" align="alignright" width="232"] The ogre magi...
Smile for the End: The Joker Dragon in Your D&D Campaign
I’m always on the lookout for inspiration—whether it’s from books, games, or the wild things I stumble across in the real world. And recently, I came across something so jaw-droppingly bizarre and brilliant that I had to do a double take: The Joker Dragon, from...
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...
Character Creation Spotlight: Picking the Perfect Playbook in Zoo Mafia
In Zoo Mafia, your Playbook defines your character’s skills, strengths, and place in the criminal underworld. Whether you're a fast-talking Grifter, a sharpshooting Button, or a hard-hitting Goon, your choice impacts not only your playstyle but how your gang operates as a team. So, how do...
Building Floating Cities: Worldbuilding in the Sky
In a world where magic keeps cities aloft and the ground below is teeming with horrors, worldbuilding doesn’t just mean mapping streets and markets—it means rethinking gravity itself. Floating cities in Aether Skies aren't just marvels of arcano-engineering, they are pressure cookers of political tension,...
7 Ways to Reimagine Dragonmarks in Your D&D Campaign (Inspired by the New Unearthed Arcana)
The latest Unearthed Arcana just dropped, offering new character options and expanding the toolkit for customizing your 5E Dungeons & Dragons experience. While it doesn’t focus directly on Eberron’s iconic dragonmarks, it does open the door to more flexible ancestry and lineage mechanics—making this the...
