11/07/2025 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Every GM has been there: you’ve got your dice, your notes, your snacks… but no idea what’s behind… Read more “Tools & Tables: Best Random Generators and Adventure Starters”
Category: DM Advice
More Than Hit Points: Giving Monsters Hearts, Fears, and Reasons
10/31/2025 Happy Halloween, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Let’s talk monsters — not just their claws, teeth, or bloated hit point totals — but their hearts,… Read more “More Than Hit Points: Giving Monsters Hearts, Fears, and Reasons”
Spooky One-Shots: Running a Halloween Adventure at Your Table
10/24/2025 Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Halloween is creeping up fast, and if you’re planning a get-together this year, why not toss a spooky… Read more “Spooky One-Shots: Running a Halloween Adventure at Your Table”
High Stakes Magic: Why Failure Makes Shadowdark Spellcasting Fun
10/17/2025 Magic in Shadowdark RPG is thrilling — and dangerous. The “roll to cast” mechanic turns every spell into a gamble. Fail, and your spell fizzles, leaving… Read more “High Stakes Magic: Why Failure Makes Shadowdark Spellcasting Fun”
Translating OSR Elements: What Shadowdark Keeps, What It Fixes
10/10/2025 The Shadowdark RPG wears its old-school roots proudly. Torches burn out after an hour, hit points are precious, and death lurks behind every flickering shadow. But… Read more “Translating OSR Elements: What Shadowdark Keeps, What It Fixes”
Expanding Shadowdark: Bringing in New Spells from Other Fantasy RPGs and Third Party Supplements
09/26/2025 One of the joys of Shadowdark RPG is how lean its spell list is. Spells feel powerful, dangerous, and flavorful—but that small list also means most… Read more “Expanding Shadowdark: Bringing in New Spells from Other Fantasy RPGs and Third Party Supplements”
Running Deadly Dungeons: How to Marshal Threats and Tension
09/19/2025 The Role of the GM in Deadly PlayDungeons should feel like more than just a collection of rooms and monsters. When players enter a dangerous delve,… Read more “Running Deadly Dungeons: How to Marshal Threats and Tension”
Deadly But Fair: Balancing Encounters in Shadowdark
09/12/2025 The Shadowdark Philosophy of DangerUnlike many tabletop RPGs that cushion the consequences of failure, Shadowdark embraces the full weight of danger. From the very first session,… Read more “Deadly But Fair: Balancing Encounters in Shadowdark”
Making Monsters Scary Again using Shadowdark
09/04/2025 In many TTRPGs today, monsters often feel like stat blocks rather than genuine threats. Shadowdark changes that. Its mechanics, from limited resources to lethal combat, make… Read more “Making Monsters Scary Again using Shadowdark”
Busy Days, Quiet Hobby: Why Breaks Can Be Good
08/29/2025 Life Has Been BusyBetween working two jobs, running my eBay/Etsy stores, and helping my daughter prepare for the arrival of twins (a boy and a girl!),… Read more “Busy Days, Quiet Hobby: Why Breaks Can Be Good”
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