Loot, Items & Spells
Magic items, treasure, shops, and player-facing card decks.
Deck of Illusions explained: 2014 vs 2024, and how to run it
How the Deck of Illusions works in D&D 5e, what changed in the 2024 rules, why it is one of the few items better as a physical object, and how to run it well.
ReadThe official Deck of Many Things set vs printing your own
The 2023 Deck of Many Things bundle is $109.99 for 66 cards and two books. Here's what's in it, what you're actually paying for, and when printing makes more sense.
ReadD&D loot tables: what the monster was actually carrying
"I search the body" is the moment most sessions sag. How to build or buy loot tables that give you a specific, characterful answer in four seconds flat.
ReadD&D magic item card decks compared: official vs printable
The official Magic Item Deck covers 294 cards for one price. Printable sets cover 800+ and let you print the item your party just found. Which one fits your table?
ReadThe D&D trinket table: how to actually use it at the table
The 5e trinket table is the best two minutes of character creation and the most wasted. How to roll it, hand it out, and turn a strange object into a plot hook.
ReadOfficial D&D Spellbook Cards vs printable: which should you buy?
Gale Force Nine's Spellbook Cards are the default answer, but they're split across decks, priced per class, and predate the 2024 rules. Here's the honest comparison.
ReadThe 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.
ReadThe 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.
ReadSpell 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.
ReadHow 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.
ReadThe 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.
ReadHow 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.
ReadPrintable 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.
ReadPrintable 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.
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