How to Run a Pirates of the Caribbean-Inspired D&D Campaign
Cursed Gold, Ghost Ships, and the Sea’s Grim Smile [caption id="attachment_89822" align="alignright" width="258"] D&D Pirate campaign gone wrong or right.[/caption] If you're dreaming of salt spray, clashing cutlasses, undead sailors, and morally ambiguous heroes, then Pirates of the Caribbean is the perfect cinematic inspiration for your next...
🎪 The Carnival of Chaos: Twisted Spectacle Under the Dome
In the strange, crumbling lands of Under the Donea, where Chaos storms of all kinds punch holes in the world and magic bleeds like oil from a cracked lantern, there are whispers—always whispers—of The Carnival of Chaos. No one remembers when it first arrived. No one...
From Peanut Rum to Gang Wars: Crafting TTRPG Heist Adventures for Zoo Mafia
Heists are the beating heart of Zoo Mafia—a world of clever critters, prohibition-era grit, and larger-than-life personalities. From stealing ledgers out from under a rival gang’s nose to hijacking peanut-based booze shipments, every job is an opportunity for daring action, tense negotiations, and unpredictable consequences. If...
Shadowsteel and the Price of Power – Our Under the Dome Saga
If you’ve been following our channel for any length of time, you’ve probably heard us talking about our Under the Dome campaign—our high-octane, motorcycle-riding, chaos-fueled adventures through a world that constantly tries to kill us. We have a bunch more articles on Under the Dome,...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Chaos Magic and You: Designing Unique Magical Mechanics for Your Campaign
Chaos magic introduces an element of delightful unpredictability to any tabletop RPG campaign. It upends player expectations, sparks creative problem-solving, and can shift a carefully orchestrated scene into unexpected chaos. Inspired by the Under the Dome campaign, where chaos magic shapes much of the world,...
Exploring the Aether Skies: A World of Magic, Espionage, and Horror
Starting in the near future Nerdarchist Dave will be returning to the world we started making years ago for a campaign on the channel. We have three videos talking about it already on the channel with more to come. We also did a full fledged...
