03/24/2026 Happy Tuesday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! There’s a quiet assumption sitting underneath a lot of modern tabletop play: encounters are supposed to be fair.… Read more “Stop Balancing Everything: Let the Dungeon Be Dangerous”
Category: DM Advice
Forged in Darkness Now Available on DriveThruRPG
03/13/2023 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tablethop Thoughts! I’m excited to announce the release of my newest Shadowdark supplement, Forged in Darkness, now available on DriveThruRPG.… Read more “Forged in Darkness Now Available on DriveThruRPG”
Loot That Matters: Rewards That Aren’t Just Gold and Magic Items
02/06/2026 In tabletop RPGs, loot is often treated like fuel: gold, gear, potions, repeat. And sure — that stuff is fun. Players love treasure. But if every… Read more “Loot That Matters: Rewards That Aren’t Just Gold and Magic Items”
Making Player Backstories Matter (Beyond Hooks)
01/30/2026 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! At some point in your DM career, you’ve probably done this: You asked for backstories.Your players delivered absolute… Read more “Making Player Backstories Matter (Beyond Hooks)”
Your World Is Better Than Your Notes
01/23/2026 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Today I want to talk about conversation vs. exposition at the table—and why I think your campaign world… Read more “Your World Is Better Than Your Notes”
Don’t Run the Caves of Chaos — Steal Them
01/16/2026 Happy [Day], and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! One of the smartest old-school adventures ever written is B2: The Keep on the Borderlands, and specifically the… Read more “Don’t Run the Caves of Chaos — Steal Them”
Getting New Players & GMs Up to Speed with Shadowdark
01/09/2026 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Today I want to talk about something that comes up every single time Shadowdark hits the table: getting… Read more “Getting New Players & GMs Up to Speed with Shadowdark”
Running Factions Without Losing Your Mind
12/19/2025 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! One of my favorite ways to make a TTRPG world feel alive—even when the party isn’t looking—is to… Read more “Running Factions Without Losing Your Mind”
Who’s Carrying the Torch? Using Hirelings in Your Shadowdark Campaign
12/12/2025 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Today I want to talk about something that doesn’t always get the spotlight in our dungeon-delving sessions, but… Read more “Who’s Carrying the Torch? Using Hirelings in Your Shadowdark Campaign”
Speak Friend and Enter: Adding Language Learning to Your Shadowdark Campaign
12/05/2025 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! This week, I’ve been tinkering with something small-but-mighty for Shadowdark tables: a simple, player-friendly method for learning new… Read more “Speak Friend and Enter: Adding Language Learning to Your Shadowdark Campaign”