Aether Skies: Secret Societies and Hidden Agendas Above the Clouds
Last week, we explored Building Sky Pirate Crews Players Will Love to Hate and discovered that not every threat in the skies flies beneath a black flag. Pirates are dangerous because you know they're coming. Their cannons roar, their banners fly proudly and their intentions...
The Dragon Accountant: What Does a Dragon Do When It Isn’t Fighting Adventurers?
What does a dragon do all day? If you ask most adventurers, the answer is obvious. It sleeps on a pile of treasure, occasionally wakes up to terrorize the countryside, eats a few livestock, and waits patiently for a group of adventurers to eventually show up...
The Ring of Gyges: D&D’s Most Dangerous Invisible Artifact
Every adventurer has wished they could disappear. [caption id="attachment_69961" align="alignright" width="185"] The titular enemy in Enemy at the Gate conceals what's going on in their cortex with a magic ring. It's a stretch, I know. [Art by Kim Van Deun][/caption]Sneak past the guards. Steal the priceless gem. Escape...
Villain Playbook: The Fey Manipulator — Creating a Memorable D&D Villain
In our last Villain Playbook, we explored the Corrupt High Priest, a villain who twists faith into a weapon. The Fey Manipulator corrupts something even more dangerous. Choice. Unlike tyrants who rule through fear or conquerors who seize kingdoms with armies, the Fey Manipulator rarely forces anyone...
Noble Districts: Living Above the World in Under the Dome
Last week, we journeyed beneath the streets to explore the underground districts that form the hidden foundation of every great city. We saw how stone itself shields civilization from the Chaos, making the deepest parts of every settlement the safest places when the storms arrive....
What The Princess Bride Teaches Dungeon Masters About Building Memorable NPCs
In my opinion, The Princess Bride is a perfect movie. I honestly can't think of a single thing I would change about it. It has adventure, comedy, romance, sword fights, revenge, memorable villains, unforgettable heroes, and perhaps the most quotable dialogue ever put on film. I...
Villain Playbook: The Corrupt High Priest — Creating a Memorable D&D Villain
Evil temples are easy. The cult worships a dark god, sacrifices innocents beneath a blood-red moon and summons demons from the depths of the Abyss. The heroes know exactly who the villains are, and everyone feels good when the final battle ends with the temple in...
Underground Districts: The Cities Beneath the Cities of Under the Dome
Last week, we explored the hidden settlements that exist beyond the protection of the great Domes. Those forgotten communities survive because they discovered something civilization overlooked. The earth itself offers protection from the Chaos. Deep caves, ancient tunnels, and buried ruins weaken the terrible energies...
Aether Skies: 5 Powerful Factions Battling for Control of the Skyways
No matter how vast the skies may seem, someone always wants to control them. The skyways are more than empty stretches of open air connecting distant ports. They are arteries of commerce, lifelines for entire kingdoms and the pathways to forgotten wonders hidden above the...
Villain Playbook: The Puppet King — Creating a Memorable D&D Villain
Some villains command armies. [caption id="attachment_34991" align="alignright" width="300"] When it comes to villainous swarms of sentient bees, accept no substitute. Fritz von Meyer has been representin' since 1977 in the pages of Marvel Comics. [Image courtesy Marvel Comics][/caption]Some wield terrible magic. Others rule entire kingdoms. The Puppet King...
Pandora’s Box: D&D’s Ultimate Artifact of Curiosity and Catastrophe
Some legendary artifacts promise power. Others promise wealth. Pandora's Box promises answers. That is precisely why it is so dangerous. Every adventurer has encountered a locked chest, a sealed vault, or an ancient door covered in mysterious warnings. Experience teaches players that behind every lock lies treasure. Pandora's Box...
Hidden Settlements: The Forgotten Communities Beyond the Dome
Most people believe there are only two ways to survive beneath the Chaos. You either live inside a Dome or you die outside of one. It is an easy belief to accept. The towering Domes dominate the landscape, their protective fields standing between civilization and the impossible...
How Breaking Bad Creates Escalating Campaigns: What Dungeon Masters Can Learn About Raising the Stakes
One of the greatest strengths of Breaking Bad is that almost none of its biggest problems exist at the beginning of the story. Walter White doesn't start by battling a criminal empire. He doesn't begin with international drug cartels hunting him, the DEA closing in, or former...
Aether Skies: Festivals and Holidays of the Skyfolk
Every culture celebrates something. Harvests, victories, the changing of the seasons and the remembrance of heroes all shape the traditions of a people. In a world where civilization lives among the clouds, however, those traditions evolve alongside the skies themselves. When airships replace wagons, floating...
What Dungeon Masters Can Learn from John Wick: Why Reputation Matters More Than Stat Blocks
There is a moment in the first John Wick film that tells you everything you need to know about the character, and it has nothing to do with combat. A frightened mobster learns that his son has stolen John Wick's car and killed his dog. He...
