Mean Games Don’t Exist
March 14, 2025
A rebuttal to the idea that playing games with confrontational mechanics is indicative of mean-spirited players.
DMing
Category: DMing
The Power of a Sincere Story
June 8, 2024
The Power of a Sincere Story By MARK WILSON R.A. Salvatore is an author best known for his many fantasy novels. In particular, his legacy
Modernism, Postmodernism and Meta-Modernism in Roleplaying
May 15, 2024
Modernism, Postmodernism and Meta-Modernism in Roleplaying By MARK WILSON I saw a good Youtube video on this topic. It was in reference to movies, but
Podcast Appearance – Sidekicks & Sidequests
May 13, 2023
Podcast Appearance – Sidekicks & Sidequests We create Leeroy Jenkins…the Vampire By MARK WILSON I was recently a guest for the second time on a
The Burden of Narrative in TTRPGs: Part 2
May 1, 2023
The Burden of Narrative in Tabletop Roleplaying Games: Part 2 By MARK WILSON In Part 1 of this article series, we looked at the burden
The Burden of Narrative in TTRPGs
April 3, 2023
The Burden of Narrative in Tabletop Roleplaying Games By MARK WILSON Avatar: Legends and My Narrative Struggle I’ve been reading the core system book and
The Problem With D&D Tips
January 7, 2022
The Problem With D&D Tips By MARK WILSON I have a Youtube channel devoted to discussing Dungeons & Dragons. The videos are largely on individual
Session Zero in D&D and Other TTRPGs
July 1, 2021
Session Zero in Dungeons and Dragons Campaigns By MARK WILSON What Is Session Zero in D&D? Session Zero is the unofficial name for what happens
Ghosts of Saltmarsh | D&D 5e Review
June 24, 2021
Ghosts of Saltmarsh | 5e D&D Review By MARK WILSON Ghosts of Saltmarsh: DM Explorer’s Pack Want to make your Ghosts game even better? Check
NPC Archetype – The Reluctant Ally
June 16, 2021
The Reluctant Ally A template for NPCs that can add tension to your game. By MARK WILSON We tend to disparage cliches and tropes today,
Adventuring NPCs
October 3, 2020
Adventuring NPCs Creating meaningful, adventuresome non-player characters that enhance the campaign, without stealing the spotlight By MARK WILSON Alright kobolds and firbolgs, let’s talk about
Writing Good Session Reports
August 24, 2020
Writing Good Gaming Session Reports Getting the most out of your time and effort By MARK WILSON I’ve written at least dozens and potentially hundreds
Summoning the Terrasque…and other curses
August 7, 2020
Summoning the Terrasque and other curses. By MARK WILSON I like the concept of cursed items, but in practice I have a hard time executing
Why Is Your Party Together?
June 15, 2020
Why is Your TTRPG Party Together? A necessary question for nearly any group By MARK WILSON In my first campaign as DM, I didn’t have
Quest vs. Adventure vs. Journey
April 27, 2020
Quest vs. Adventure vs. Journey Which to use, and why? By MARK WILSON Quest: Trip to accomplish a specific task. Adventure: Trip without a destination.
Five Cool Plot Hooks Vol. 4
March 30, 2020
Five Cool Plot Hooks Vol. 4 Steal these hooks if you need some inspiration! By MARK WILSON There are an endless number of great plot
Five Cool Plot Hooks Vol. 3
February 24, 2020
Five Cool Plot Hooks Vol. 3 Steal these hooks if you need some inspiration! By MARK WILSON There are an endless number of great plot
Sidetracked: Incorporating Meaningful Side Quests Into Campaigns
February 9, 2020
Sidetracked: Incorporating Meaningful Side Quests Into Campaigns By MARK WILSON Ah yes, the side quest. Proverbial bastion of endless possibility, and a break from the
Five More Cool RPG Plot Hooks
January 27, 2020
Five More Cool RPG Plot Hooks Steal these hooks if you need some inspiration! By MARK WILSON Other “Plot Hook” Articles: Part I Part III
Five Cool Plot Hooks for Roleplaying Games
November 25, 2019
Five Cool RPG Plot Hooks Steal these hooks if you need some inspiration! By MARK WILSON There are an endless number of great plot hooks.
Jaquaysing a Dungeon
August 26, 2019
Jaquaysing a Dungeon Learning from the best dungeons of yore By MARK WILSON Historical Note: This article refers to a coined term that references now-deceased
Building Better Bases in Tabletop Roleplaying Games
July 29, 2019
Building Better Bases in Tabletop Roleplaying Games Awesome bases through collaboration By MARK WILSON Many D&D groups end up with a “home base.” It could
Gaining Advantage in D&D
June 24, 2019
Gaining the Advantage An alternative for skill checks By MARK WILSON One of the other RPGs I love besides D&D is Mouse Guard. In it,
One Useless Thing: Enhancing Your D&D Descriptions
May 27, 2019
One Useless Thing How the seemingly mundane can create evocative description By MARK WILSON Good descriptions are hard. I don’t have a catch-all way to
DMing Wins in D&D
April 29, 2019
Success Was Had – DMing Wins Sometimes – against all odds – I do some things right By MARK WILSON Last month I had a
Mistakes Were Made – My DMing Mishaps
March 25, 2019
Mistakes Were Made Learn from my blunders to avoid these newbie DMing mistakes By MARK WILSON I took fairly detailed notes during my first full
Easter Eggs in D&D Campaigns
February 25, 2019
Easter Eggs Giving nods to other campaigns and settings to immerse your players By MARK WILSON In books and movies, easter eggs are small, hidden
“Make It Your Own” – Stealing & Adapting non-RPG Elements Into Your Game
December 28, 2018
Make It Your Own Stealing & Adapting non-RPG Elements Into Your Game By MARK WILSON Adapting Media into RPGs This article will focus on stealing