Field notes from behind the screen.
Ten years of running tables, written down so the next DM does not have to learn it the hard way. Encounter design, session prep, and the small calls that decide how Wednesday night ends.
Hot off the desk.
The best D&D battlemap themes, biome by biome
A DM's guide to the battlemap themes worth owning, forest, dungeon, city, tavern, snow, desert, coast, infernal and more, and how many variants of each you actually need.
Everything we have written so far.
Getting Started
5 postsFirst games, core tools, and getting set up behind the screen.
Pathfinder 2e for D&D players: making the switch
Curious about Pathfinder 2e after D&D 5e? What's different, what to expect, how hard the switch really is, and the character sheet that smooths the transition.
Read moreHow to Use a Battlemap as a New DM
A new DM's guide to using battlemaps: when to put one down, grid scale, placing minis and tokens, fog of war, and how to run combat on a map smoothly.
Read moreThe complete D&D session 0 guide
A complete D&D session 0 guide: what to cover, a ready checklist of questions, safety tools, and how to set expectations before your first session.
Read moreThe best free D&D DM tools (2026)
The best free D&D DM tools for 2026: browser-based generators, trackers, and map utilities that speed up prep and run sessions, with no signup or cost.
Read moreHow to Run Your First D&D Game: A New DM's Checklist
How to run your first D&D game: a new DM's checklist for prep, your first combat and roleplay, beginner mistakes to skip, and the 2024 DMG tools.
Read moreRunning the Game
20 postsLive DM craft: improvising, pacing, combat, and the table itself.
The best low-CR D&D monsters for early encounters
The most useful low-CR monsters for D&D 5e levels 1–4: goblins, kobolds, wolves and more, with why each works and how to combine them into balanced early fights.
Read moreThe deadliest monsters in D&D 5e (and how to run them)
The most dangerous monsters in the D&D 5e SRD, from the Tarrasque to ancient dragons and liches, what makes each terrifying, and how to run high-CR boss fights that land.
Read moreThe D&D 2024 DM screen: the reference sheets every DM needs
What belongs on your DM screen for 2024 5e. The rules worth keeping at a glance, why the printed panels fall short, and how to build custom DM screen inserts.
Read moreThe Dalelands 2026 sourcebooks: a DM's guide
Ed Greenwood's new Dalelands sourcebooks are landing through 2026. What each book covers, why the Dalelands is a great campaign setting, and how to bring it to your table.
Read moreFree RPG Day 2026: best one-shots to run and prep
Free RPG Day is the perfect excuse to run a one-shot for new players. What the day is, how to pick a beginner-friendly adventure, and how to prep a session strangers will love.
Read moreDnD 2024 card decks vs printable: which is worth it?
Official DnD spell, monster and magic item card decks land in August 2026. Are they worth it, or are printable cards the smarter buy? An honest comparison for DMs and players.
Read moreHow to run a DnD chase scene that actually works
The DnD chase rules confuse everyone. A simpler, tension-filled way to run a pursuit: zones, obstacles and a complication every round, so the chase feels alive instead of flat.
Read moreAI Dungeon Master Tools vs Doing It Yourself (2026)
An honest look at AI Dungeon Master tools in 2026: what they do well, where they fall short, and when free human-run DM tools beat them for your table.
Read moreHow Big Should a D&D Battlemap Be? Grid and Sizing
How big a D&D battlemap should be: grid square scale, common map dimensions, resolution for print and VTT, and how to size maps for a TV or tabletop.
Read moreWhat Are D&D's 2026 'Seasons'? The New Model Explained
D&D's 2026 Seasons model explained: what a Season is, how it changes releases for DMs and players, and what the Season of Horror and Season of Magic include.
Read moreHow to Make Your Own D&D Battlemap (Free and Paid)
How to make a D&D battlemap: free tools, paid map makers, grid scale and resolution, printing vs digital, and when buying a map pack beats building one.
Read moreD&D 2026 Release Schedule: Every Book and Season
The full D&D 2026 release schedule: every confirmed sourcebook and adventure, when each lands, prices, and the new Seasons model, organised for DMs.
Read moreArcana Unleashed: Deadfall — What DMs Know So Far
A DM's preview of Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall, D&D's September 2026 Red Wizards of Thay adventure. What's confirmed, what isn't, and how to prep for it.
Read moreHow to Improvise as a Dungeon Master (When Players Go Off-Script)
How to improvise as a Dungeon Master when players go off-script: a repeatable in-the-moment framework, reaction rolls, and copy-paste random tables.
Read moreHow to build balanced D&D encounters (2024 rules)
How to build balanced D&D encounters with the 2024 rules: the XP budget method, CR, action economy, difficulty bands, and a fast table-tested workflow.
Read moreHow to Speed Up D&D Combat
Speed up D&D combat with a before/during/after model: average monster damage, group initiative, minions, morale, and cutting rules-lookups. Usable tonight.
Read moreHow to Deal With a Problem Player in D&D
How to deal with a problem player in D&D: scripts for the private talk, an escalation ladder, an expectations template, and when to remove someone, kindly.
Read moreHow to Do D&D NPC Voices (Without Being a Voice Actor)
How to do D&D NPC voices without accents or acting training: a four-axis system, anxiety fixes, and a fill-in voice cheat-sheet for everyday DMs.
Read moreDM Note-Taking That Survives the Session
A practical DM note-taking system for D&D: prep categories before, phonetic shorthand during, and a 24-hour recap after — plus a reusable note structure.
Read moreHow to Write a D&D Session Recap Players Actually Read
A short formula for D&D session recaps players actually read: open with a promise, cut the clutter, end on a question, plus a fill-in template.
Read moreRules & References
6 postsClear, current rulings for 2024 5e conditions, spells, and mechanics.
D&D 2024 Conditions Cheat Sheet: All 15 Conditions Explained
A plain-English D&D 2024 conditions cheat sheet covering all 15 conditions, with the exact rules and what changed for exhaustion, grappled, and prone.
Read moreHow the frightened condition works in D&D 2024
A clear guide to the frightened condition in D&D 2024: what it does, what causes it, how it ends, what changed from 2014, and how DMs should use it.
Read moreHow Does Hiding Work in D&D 2024? Stealth Rules Untangled
A clear guide to hiding and stealth in D&D 2024: the Hide action, the reworked Invisible condition, what ends being hidden, and a simple table ruling.
Read moreHow Does Weapon Mastery Work in D&D 2024?
A clear guide to weapon mastery in D&D 2024: what mastery properties do, which classes get them, all 8 properties explained, and how to pick your two.
Read moreThe Best D&D 2024 Subclasses (A DM's Perspective)
A DM's look at the best D&D 2024 subclasses, which got buffed or nerfed, and what each change means for your encounter math at the table.
Read moreConjure Minor Elementals in D&D 2024: The Nerf, Explained
Conjure Minor Elementals was D&D 2024's most broken spell. Here's what it did, what the 2025 errata changed, why it was busted, and how to run it.
Read moreMaps, Tokens & Minis
19 postsGetting battlemaps, tokens, and miniatures onto your table.
The best D&D battlemap themes, biome by biome
A DM's guide to the battlemap themes worth owning, forest, dungeon, city, tavern, snow, desert, coast, infernal and more, and how many variants of each you actually need.
Read moreRoll20 vs Foundry VTT for battlemaps: which should you use?
Roll20 vs Foundry VTT compared for running battlemaps: cost, image handling, grid alignment, performance and setup. Which virtual tabletop suits your table, and the maps that work in both.
Read moreBuilding a D&D battlemap library: one bundle vs buying packs
Should you buy battlemaps one pack at a time or in a mega bundle? The real cost of a DM map library, what you actually need, and why a bundle usually wins.
Read moreRunning sci-fi and cyberpunk encounters in D&D
How to run futuristic, sci-fi and cyberpunk scenes in D&D 5e — Spelljammer, magitek cities, skydocks and neon streets — plus the battlemaps that make them land.
Read moreSummer DnD one-shot ideas your players will remember
Eight summer-flavoured DnD one-shot ideas, from a coastal festival gone wrong to a wildfire in the forest, with the hooks, stakes and battlemaps to run each in a single session.
Read moreTheatre of the mind vs battlemaps: when to use each
Should you run DnD combat with a battlemap or in the imagination? An honest comparison of theatre of the mind and grid maps, when each wins, and how to blend them.
Read moreHow to run a heist in DnD: a step-by-step guide
Heists are the encounter DnD's rules don't explain. A practical six-stage structure for planning, infiltration and the inevitable moment it all goes wrong, plus the maps you need.
Read moreDnD city battlemaps: running urban street fights
Urban combat plays nothing like a dungeon. A guide to city and street battlemaps, fighting with crowds and rooftops, running town chases, and the maps that make it work.
Read moreHow to import battlemaps into Foundry VTT
A step-by-step guide to importing battlemaps into Foundry VTT: grid sizing, why gridless wins, aligning the scene, walls and lighting, UVTT files, and keeping performance smooth.
Read moreDnD naval combat: ship battlemaps and boarding
How to run a ship fight in DnD 5e without it falling apart: the battlemaps you need, boarding actions, naval chases, and the hazards that make water combat sing.
Read moreDnD tavern battlemaps and running a tavern scene
The tavern is where most campaigns begin. A practical guide to what a great tavern battlemap needs, running brawls and downtime, and using one inn as a campaign home base.
Read moreThe D&D Battlemap Locations Every Campaign Needs
The battlemap locations every D&D campaign reuses: taverns, forests, dungeons, roads, throne rooms and more — what each is for and why to have them ready.
Read moreHow to make D&D tokens for Roll20 and Foundry
How to make D&D tokens for Roll20 and Foundry: the right sizes, borders, export settings, and a fast free workflow to turn any art into a clean VTT token.
Read moreHow to run D&D battlemaps on a TV or projector
How to run D&D battlemaps on a TV or projector: screen setup, grid scale, the best display method, and where to get maps that stay sharp at the table.
Read moreCheap D&D Miniatures: Paper vs Plastic
An honest cost comparison of paper minis, standees, official plastic, 3D-printed, and tokens — plus a clear which-to-pick guide for a whole party on a budget.
Read moreHow to 3D Print D&D Miniatures: A Beginner's Guide
How to 3D print D&D miniatures as a beginner: FDM vs resin, finding STL files, supports and slicer basics, and a realistic first-print plan with real costs.
Read moreDnD battlemaps for Roll20 and Foundry: a guide
Buying battlemaps for Roll20 or Foundry VTT? A practical guide to resolution, grid alignment, file formats, and why bundles beat single-map purchases.
Read morePrintable DnD paper miniatures: a DM's guide
Paper minis aren't a budget compromise. A practical guide to printing, assembly, double-sided design, and when to use paper, plastic, or 3D printed.
Read moreOn drawing rooms that feel lived in
A short essay on the difference between a tavern and an empty room with three tables in it, and what we ended up changing in the studio because of it.
Read moreLoot, Items & Spells
8 postsMagic items, treasure, shops, and player-facing card decks.
The best D&D 5e cantrips for every class
The most useful cantrips in D&D 5e, class by class: attack, utility and social cantrips worth taking, why each one earns a slot, and where to find the full list.
Read moreThe best starter magic items for low-level D&D characters
The most useful low-level magic items to hand out in D&D 5e: common and uncommon items that feel great without breaking the game, and why each one works as an early reward.
Read moreSpell scrolls in D&D 2024: rules, scribing and using them
How spell scrolls work in D&D 2024 5e: who can use them, the scribing and crafting rules, costs and time, and how to hand them out as a DM without breaking your game.
Read moreHow to Run a D&D Magic Shop Players Actually Enjoy
Run a D&D magic shop without tedious price-lookups: how to set stock, price items by rarity, handle haggling, buy loot, and give merchants real personality.
Read moreThe Deck of Many Things, Explained (And How to Survive It)
A DM's guide to the Deck of Many Things in D&D 5e: how it works, the card effects that matter, 2024 DMG changes, and how to run it without wrecking your campaign.
Read moreHow to Hand Out Treasure in D&D 2024
How to pace and present rewards using the 2024 DMG: individual vs hoard treasure, magic items by level, treasure themes, and loot that lands.
Read morePrintable DnD magic item cards: why they matter
Physical magic item cards transform how loot lands at the table. A practical guide to rarity, attunement, scope, and the cards worth printing.
Read morePrintable DnD spell cards: a 5e guide
Physical spell cards change how players engage with their spells. A practical guide to sizes, illustrations, edition coverage, and how DMs use them too.
Read moreCampaigns & Worldbuilding
3 postsPlanning, launching, and sustaining a long campaign.
How to Keep Your D&D Campaign Going Over the Summer
How to keep your D&D campaign going over the summer: the play-with-who-shows-up rule, low-prep backup one-shots, and setting attendance expectations.
Read moreHow to Start a New D&D Campaign
How to start a new D&D campaign: choose a premise, sketch the arc, and prep your first three sessions so the launch lands and the table keeps coming back.
Read moreHow to Worldbuild a D&D Setting From Scratch (Start Small)
Worldbuild a D&D setting from scratch without the blank-map panic. Start with one town, expand outward, and build only what the next three sessions touch.
Read moreOne-Shots & Adventures
14 postsSelf-contained sessions, seasonal one-shots, and published adventures.
How to run Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus in Hell
A DM guide to running Descent into Avernus — grounding the party in Baldur's Gate, the fall of Elturel, infernal war machines, and the battlemaps that make Hell land.
Read moreLost Mine of Phandelver: the complete DM guide
How to run Lost Mine of Phandelver and Phandelver and Below — the best starter adventure for new DMs. Session-by-session prep, common pitfalls, and where it leads next.
Read moreHow to run Tomb of Annihilation: a DM's survival guide
Running Tomb of Annihilation? A DM guide to the Death Curse, the Chult hexcrawl, keeping the jungle deadly without killing the pace, and surviving the Tomb of the Nine Gods.
Read moreHow to run Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (and fix its problems)
A DM guide to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist — tying the party to the city, making Trollskull Manor matter, fixing the fireball investigation, and picking the right villain and season.
Read moreD&D Winter and Holiday One-Shot Ideas for Your Table
Festive and frostbitten D&D winter one-shot ideas: cosy, eerie, and heroic holiday hooks with twists and the maps you need to run a single-evening session.
Read moreD&D Halloween One-Shot Ideas You Can Run This October
Spooky D&D Halloween one-shot ideas for any level: ready-to-run hooks, twists, and the maps you need for a single-evening horror session your table will remember.
Read moreDark Gifts in D&D Explained (Ravenloft: The Horrors Within)
What Dark Gifts are in D&D's Ravenloft: The Horrors Within: how the horror feats work, the bargain they represent, and how DMs should hand them out.
Read moreHow to Run a Pirate D&D One-Shot (Summer Sea Adventure)
Run a pirate D&D one-shot in one session: a 4-beat structure, ship-to-ship and on-deck combat tips, a memorable villain, and the maps you need.
Read more10 D&D horror one-shot ideas you can run tonight
Ten ready-to-run D&D horror one-shot ideas across gothic, folk, cosmic and body horror, each with a hook, a twist, and the maps you need to run it.
Read moreHow to Run a D&D One-Shot at a Convention
Run a D&D one-shot at a convention with confidence: pre-gen characters, tight four-hour pacing, table etiquette, safety tools, and what to pack.
Read moreHow to run a D&D horror one-shot
Run a D&D horror one-shot that actually scares your table: pick a subgenre, build dread, use the frightened condition, and steal a ready-made skeleton.
Read moreHow to run Curse of Strahd: a DM's guide
How to run Curse of Strahd: a DM's guide to the Tarokka reading, playing Strahd as a recurring villain, pacing Barovia, and prepping key locations.
Read moreHow to prep for Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
Getting ready to run Ravenloft: The Horrors Within? Here's how to prep the Domains of Dread, pick a Darklord, use Tarokka draws, and set a gothic table.
Read moreArcana Unleashed: What D&D DMs Need to Know
A preview of D&D's upcoming high-magic sourcebook Arcana Unleashed. What is confirmed so far, what is not, and what it may change for DMs running high-magic tables.
Read more