Take a look at the second part of a two-part article from Jerry that explores Diablo’s traps. This time Jerry tackles events that can work as larger traps. Traps as Events Does a trap have to be a single-fire, whizz-bang affair? Certainly not. Diablo 3 does a pretty good job of emphasizing constant peril and […]
From Diablo 3 to D&D: Traps with a Twist (Part 2) Read More »
Master Pett’s Your Whispering Homunculus presents only the finest in British gaming. Indeed, you are not likely to find a more comprehensive assortment of miscellany anywhere. (So much more than just another bloke in a dress.) “Just imagine it!” “Master?” “If we could talk to the animals!” “You can, master. Buy a scroll in the mystic
Your Whispering Homunculus: One Hundred Matters of Great Importance to Animals Read More »
Old-School Renaissance A movement is happening in the shadows of the big fantasy RPGs. It calls itself the old-school renaissance, or OSR for short. You might have seen its logo popping up around the web. Like most grassroots movements, there’s no specific date when this got started. It’s tough even to say whether what we’re
Howling Tower: Old-School Renaissance Read More »
Monsters of Sin epitomize the very worst of our natures—and they prey on others’ weaknesses. This second book in the Monsters of Sin series for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is devoted to Envy, the desire for what someone else has – whatever that someone has! It includes:
Monsters of Sin: Envy Now Available Read More »
This week, we have the first part of a two-part article from Jerry that explores Diablo’s traps, which might make a few GMs out there happy. Players should take heed, though: Sometimes your characters can take advantage of traps, too! Old Traps, New Ideas Traps are pretty common in a lot of D&D campaigns, especially
From Diablo 3 to D&D: Traps with a Twist (Part 1) Read More »
The best roleplaying sessions I ever played were a GangBusters campaign run by the game’s designer, Mark Acres. This campaign was legendary around TSR. Everyone wanted in, so Mark routinely wound up handling twelve or more players at a time. Understand that GangBusters is a tabletop version of simple, straightforward cops and robbers set in
Howling Tower: Gangsters Have Much to Teach Us Read More »
Welcome to the third installment in Jerry’s Diablo 3 to D&D series of blog posts. You can read about skill runes and treasure pygmies (the first two parts) before starting with socketed items. How It Works Aside from whatever magical properties armor and weapons has, most items function in only a few different ways. That’s
From Diablo 3 to D&D: Socketed Items Read More »
Cities and towns crop up frequently in most RPG campaigns, assuming you’re not spending all your time in a megadungeon. Given their importance in establishing a setting in general and in immediate game events, I’ve never been very happy with the way most RPGs deal with them. Published town descriptions all too often focus on
Howling Tower: Social Studies Read More »
Welcome to the second installment in Jerry’s Diablo 3 to D&D series of blog posts. You can read about skill runes first, if you want, or dive right into this week’s topic: treasure pygmies. Ah, treasure pygmies. Here’s another bit of Diablo 3 that any fun-loving group of gamers should readily enjoy at their tables.
From Diablo 3 to D&D: Treasure Pygmies Read More »
A trapsmith must possess a certain degree of showmanship. A good trap consists of three parts ruthless efficiency and one part “you really shouldn’t be here.” Tomb robbers, trespassers, and adventurers are a persistent lot—they don’t reconsider their course of action easily, so it takes a certain measure of persuasion to make them do so.
Trapsmith: Floating Pincushion Read More »
Adventure hooks are those little clues that DMs drop here and there to attract characters to particular adventure areas, usually the ones the DM has invested considerable time and energy into detailing. They can take many forms (more on that below), but what’s important is that they tantalize the players enough to whet their appetites
Howling Tower: Baiting the Hook Read More »
The ritual magic system that is detailed within the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Player’s Handbook provides your characters with the ability to create interesting and useful effects. By building on that system, you could introduce a new element to your campaign: the realm of Dreaming. This article introduces new rituals, an item, and a
The Realm of Dreaming Read More »
Let me preface this series of articles by introducing myself. My name is Jerry LeNeave, and I’ve been addicted to games far longer than I care to mention. I run a blog over at The Dread Gazebo, help run the show over at Obsidian Portal, and also co-host the Haste podcast. I’ve been playing video
From Diablo 3 to D&D: Skill Runes Read More »
The deception of a trap lies in the perception. Trapsmiths control the environment, and you see only what they want you to see. It could very well be that the obvious solution to the problem or obstacle that you perceive is what will be your downfall. “A gaping hole opens up in the dungeon floor
Trapsmith: Devouring Pits Read More »
Here’s the scoop on when and where to see Wolfgang Baur and the Kobold Crew at the show. Kobold publisher Wolfgang is an Industry Guest of Honor this year so they’re working him hard. You’ll find him and various freelancers at the following panels and events: Homebrewers Guide to RPG Worldbuilding Admit it: Sometimes the
My first efforts as a DM were with published D&D adventures: D1–3, Descent Into the Depths of the Earth, Shrine of the Kuo-Toa, and Vault of the Drow. We bombed through the series in two marathon sessions. Those adventures produced great moments and great memories. I still shudder, however, when I think about some of
Howling Tower: Off-the-Cuff Adventures Read More »
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