Author: Russ

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Encounter Table Design For DnD

I have written about how good Dungeons & Dragons random encounter tables are before, both in this blog and in issue 7 of my zine. 

In this post I want to respond in a way to a video I watched where the host was explaining how bell-curve random tables are not truly random and shouldn’t be used. A single die with a way to roll higher than the max would be better. 

I both agree and disagree with this notion. 

It all comes down to what you want to get out of the table and what area in your campaign world the table is for. 

Let’s dive into it. 

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Monster Stat Blocks – A New Layout

Monster Stat Blocks - A New Layout

Monster stat blocks are an essential part of the Dungeons & Dragons game.

They let the GM know a lot about the monster – at least they should.

What they tend to end up like is a combat block, rather than a monster stat block, focusing on combat-orientated information.

Helpful in combat, but not very complete, given the characters may want to parley or interact with the creature in other ways.

What I have developed is a modular monster stat block that will give GMs the information they need – at a glance – to run the monster in any situation. 

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d12 Monthly – Issue 9 – Dragon Issue

d12 Monthly zine - issue 9

Issue 9 of my Dungeons and Dragons zine is out!

Issue 9 is all about dragons. It will feature articles on dragon lairs and the cohorts who fill it, new kobold varieties to throw at your players, how to easily make dragon magic more powerful, an example dragon’s lair, and also a feature on a tavern that sells dragon meat, and much more! (See below for details).

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Tracking My Success – Metrics From 2021 And How I Track Them

How I Track My Success

Tracking my success is important to me.

2021 was a good year for YUMDM, even though the world around me (and many others) seemed to be closing in.

For starters, I launched my D&D zine, launched a Patreon, and also have some goals going into 2022.

But, to know how far you have come you need to be able to track your success (and failures).

One way to do this is to track some important metrics.

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Reaction Rolls in Dungeons & Dragons

Reaction Rolls

Reaction rolls are an old school mechanic in D&D that allows you to determine how an NPC or monster will react to the PCs. 

This mostly forgotten mechanic (at least in the modern game) was a core rule in earlier versions of the game (OSR). 

When the party came upon a random encounter with intelligent monsters, and the party decided to parley with them instead of attacking them, the GM would then roll a reaction check for the monsters. 

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The D6 Mechanic for D&D And Other TTRPGs

The D6 Mechanic

What’s going to happen?

Let the simple D6 Mechanic decide for you.

This simple mechanic will allow you to add in some randomness to your Dungeons and Dragons sessions.

Instead of making decisions all the time, let the die decide for you.

All you have to do is decide on the odds.

A simple mechanic like the D6 Mechanic can be used at the table within seconds. 

Let’s look at an example.

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