GM’s Can Create an Adventure in Five Easy Pieces
In the video above from the Nerdarchy YouTube channel Nerdarchist Dave, Nate the Nerdarch and Nerdarchist Ted explore an approach to creating tabletop roleplaying game adventures. Based on the Five Ws – traditional basic information gathering and problem solving steps – this method makes creating adventures for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons or any RPG much easier.
By asking yourself who, what, where, when and why a Game Master turns what could be a daunting task into a quick process. Preparing RPG adventures this way provides a solid foundation for both GM and players. Building on the basic structure you create is absolutely possible. But this simple method alone offers ample material to work with at your gaming table for fun, rewarding experiences.
E67 YR1- Nerdarchy’s First Look at the 5E D&D Druid Podcast
Episode 67 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One Here is our first druid discussion. It so happens that is during our review of 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons. https://soundcloud.com/david-friant-458990853/e67-yr1-nerdarchys-first-look-at-the-5e-dd-druid Wild shaping with Druids in 5e| Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Classes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_38uC1JVN_A 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons Classes| Wild shaping...
A D&D Player Needs All the Stuff, a D&D DM Needs Even More Stuff!
In this ArmorClass10.com-sponsored video Nate the Nerdarch and Nerdarhchists Dave and Ted approach the idea of bookkeeping for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons or any tabletop roleplaying game from several avenues. Pregame preparation, character maintenance and efficiency during play are some of the topics discussed.
The standout aspect for me is preparing for a game session by making sure you have all the materials you need. My group meets to play D&D or whatever game we get into at a local coffeeshop. There’s a private room we reserve in the back to while away the evening rolling funny-shaped dice and speaking with funny-sounding voices. Every session requires a mental checklist before heading out the door to account for all the necessary stuff. And then a double-check. And then a quick assessment of more stuff that might be needed.
Elven Tower Maps a Course Through D&D Content Creation
2017 Ennie Award nominee Elven Tower creates maps and original content for D&D and other RPGs
Derek Ruiz – or Derek von Zarovich as he’s widely known to fans on the internet – is an 2017 Ennie Award nominee for best website. A year ago he was an English teacher. With the flip of a coin, he launched Elven Tower and now “maps” his way forward to continued success as a content creator for D&D and other RPGs. In August, Elven Tower celebrates its one year anniversary. Along with his Ennie Award nomination, Ruiz won the One Page Dungeon contest earlier in 2017 with his entry “Where are the Villagers?”
“I had this idea. I’m going to do something with the internet – start a website or something. I had two options, because this is going to be out of love. This is going to be something that I enjoy. Either it was going to be something about D&D, or it was going to be about science. Believe it or not I just flipped a coin, and I said okay, this is going to be about D&D.” – Derek Ruiz
E66 YR1- Skill Proficiencies in D&D 5E Podcast
Episode 66 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One Here is another one of our early vids when 1st started talking bout 5e. At this point we were just going through the player's handbook. https://soundcloud.com/david-friant-458990853/e66-yr1-skill-proficiencies-in-dd-5e Getting Proficient with Proficiencies In D&D 5E| Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDGqSTStspw Dungeons and Dragons...
Worst Ways To DM D&D
There was an interesting ArmorClass10.com-sponsored video done on the Nerdarchy YouTube channel that detailed not just the worst ways to Dungeon Master, but the worst ways that the Nerdarchy crew have DM’d. This caught my ear for the humorous humility one has to have in order to present such. This of course is right up my alley, and akin to my usual theme of humor in the day-to-day discussions of Dungeons & Dragons. So of course I simply had to volunteer to speak on the worst ways to DM, and add my mistakes to the list. Let’s jump in and speak of various mistakes I’ve made, shall we? Let the roast begin!
Marvel Super Heroes RPG Live Game All About the Chat
D&D 5E Spelljammer Makes the Most of Monsters
It’s been a few weeks since the last trip into the wildspace of Spelljammer for D&D 5E. My home game dabbled in a few one-shots and welcomed a new, first time Dungeon Master. Origins came and went, and several Nerdarchy projects kept me from sharing more insights into the exploits of a fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons Spelljammer campaign.
Then I saw this tweet from Mike Mearls the other day.
I know patience is difficult, but we really are looking at ways to bring all the settings back. Even Spelljammer! #WOTCstaff https://t.co/eKu48e5RjF
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) July 3, 2017
And the enthusiastic replies.
And a long list of other Spelljammer fans sharing affection for the setting.
And fan groups on Facebook, Google+ and more.
We’re out there, Wizards of the Coast! While I can’t speak for all of us, it’s encouraging to know the folks behind the game we love include all of our favorite aspects from its rich history in their grand vision. In time, I’m confident we’ll get our Dark Sun, Al-Qadim, Dragonlance and Eberron fixes in official capacities.
RPG character change: An Open Legend example
Change in character
Often there are comparisons made between tabletop role-playing games and fiction, and though there are a lot of differences, there are similarities as both can be storytelling mediums. One similarity is in the importance of characters and character growth or change.
In fiction, character change is often thought of as a character arc, a transformation inwardly or outwardly or both during a character’s journey, during the character’s story. The same can apply to our characters in RPGs.
E65 YR1- Playing Backgrounds & Equipment with D&D 5E Podcast
Episode 65 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One Double episode with a deep dive into the players handbook of the newest edition of the world's most popular role-playing game. This time we will look at the background and equipment section from the PHB. https://soundcloud.com/david-friant-458990853/e65-yr1-playing-backgrounds-equipment-with-dd-5e Nerdarchy Breaks Down Backgrounds...
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #8 – Road Crew
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Societies all over the world have their own way of doing things. Regardless where you are from, I bet you’d be surprised how cultures on the other side of the world did some of the most common things. The way we make a meal, prepare a home, treat the loss of a loved one, or manufacture materials or products might be done in a completely different way in a far-flung culture. This objective truth should also apply to the realms within fantasy. Volo’s Guide to Monsters goes into some of these cultural aspects, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
E64 YR1- 5E D&D Cleric is the Best DnD Cleric Podcast
Episode 64 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One Here is another from our early dive into the player's handbook for 5E D&D. We go through and give our first impressions of each of the character classes. This time it's the cleric. https://soundcloud.com/david-friant-458990853/e64-yr1-5e-dd-cleric-is-the-best-dnd-cleric Cleric Calling Down The Holy Wrath...
No Campaign for Old Men: Shout Out to Older Protagonists
Hey, nerds. Today we’re going to talk about character ages. Most people go for younger protagonists, younger D&D characters. Twenty-somethings tend to be the staple in most games I’ve been involved in, and that makes sense to a degree. Part of the allure is wanting to watch a character mature, play them from an early age and see them grow into someone else, especially if you’re starting at Level 1 and don’t have a lot of room for back story.
But not every campaign starts at Level 1 and that’s to say nothing for NPCs and other works of fiction. There’s a place for older characters; it’s something I don’t see done often, but I’d like to see it done more.
Speak With Dead #03: The Nature of Evil
Dear Maxillae the Mad,
My druid circle disagrees with my use of undead in the line of duty. Death is just as much a part of nature as life, and I only raise those whose spirits I have communicated with and that have consented to helping me. How can I make the others see that I am not evil just because my practices are unconventional?
Signed,
Deerly-Departed
Dear Departed,
As a practicing necromancer, I do some pretty evil things and I’m all right with that. So believe me when I say, I wouldn’t be judging you if what you were doing was evil, but if the spirits are all right with it, I don’t see how it qualifies. People just get really iffy about dead things walking around for some reason.
The thing is, if they’re bound and determined to think what you’re doing is bad, they’re going to think so no matter how you frame it. And all of the spells designed to detect that sort of thing are currently calibrated to both by default.
Unfortunately, there is no way for you to prove your goodness. The people around you don’t trust you, plain and simple. In that case, you need to decide what means more to you: the ability to be yourself, or the seeming respect of those around you. I know which I would pick if it were me. Respecting you on the conditions of your being someone you are not is in no way real respect.
Regards,
Maxillae the Mad
E63 YR1- We are Talking the Fighter and Rogue in D&D Podcast
Episode 63 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One Time for another double feature. This time we are talking character classes throughout the editions of D&D. https://soundcloud.com/david-friant-458990853/e63-yr1-we-are-talking-the-fighter-and-rogue-in-dd On Guard Here Comes The Fiercesome Fighter| Dungeons and Dragons Character Classes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3812yon5fY Dungeons and Dragons Classes| On Guard Here Comes The Fiercesome Fighter Nerdarchist...
