08/27/2025 Why Wilderness Matters in ShadowdarkThe dungeon may be the centerpiece of Shadowdark, but what happens between dungeons is just as important. Travel should feel uncertain, risky,… Read more “Running Gritty Wilderness Travel in Shadowdark”
Category: DM Advice
Creating Memorable NPCs Without Extra Prep Using Random Tables
08/22/2025 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Every Game Master knows that the best NPCs are the ones players remember—sometimes for their quirks, sometimes for… Read more “Creating Memorable NPCs Without Extra Prep Using Random Tables”
Why Every Shadowdark GM Should Be Robbing Basic Fantasy
08/20/2025 Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Today, I released another YouTube video about stealing an adventure from Basic Fantasy RPG and using it in… Read more “Why Every Shadowdark GM Should Be Robbing Basic Fantasy”
How to Adapt Basic Fantasy Content for Shadowdark
08/14/2025 Look Before You Steal Before borrowing content from Basic Fantasy to use in Shadowdark, it’s important to understand the key differences between the two systems. While… Read more “How to Adapt Basic Fantasy Content for Shadowdark”
Finding Joy in Creativity: A Hobbyist’s Reminder
08/08/2025 The past few weeks have been a whirlwind—packed schedules, long days, and very little time for the things that refuel me. But on Tuesday night, for… Read more “Finding Joy in Creativity: A Hobbyist’s Reminder”
Why Shadowdark’s Equipment Slot System Is a Stroke of Genius
07/29/2025 Encumbrance in D&D 5E: A System That’s Easy to Ignore In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, encumbrance is based on weight. A character can carry an… Read more “Why Shadowdark’s Equipment Slot System Is a Stroke of Genius”
Shadowdark: Engaging Overland Travel Techniques
07/25/2025 In many fantasy tabletop RPGs, the most exciting parts of the game happen in dungeons, boss fights, or bustling cities. But what about the spaces between… Read more “Shadowdark: Engaging Overland Travel Techniques”
Plunder the Past: Stealing from Basic Fantasy and Old D&D for Your Shadowdark Game
07/11/2025 I’ve been gaming for over 40 years now—which still blows my mind, even as I stare at a shelf groaning under the weight of rulebooks older… Read more “Plunder the Past: Stealing from Basic Fantasy and Old D&D for Your Shadowdark Game”
How to Spot and Combat Hobby Burnout Effectively
06/09/2025 When the Hobby You Love Starts Feeling Like Work I’ve been there — sitting at my desk, paintbrush in hand, staring at a half-finished miniature I… Read more “How to Spot and Combat Hobby Burnout Effectively”
🧭 Mastering Sandbox Prep with the Eight Steps of Lazy Dungeon Mastery
05/28/2025 Running a sandbox-style campaign doesn’t mean you need to prepare a mountain of notes you’ll never use. Instead, use Mike Shea’s smart, scalable approach from his… Read more “🧭 Mastering Sandbox Prep with the Eight Steps of Lazy Dungeon Mastery”
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