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)”
Tag: writing
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”
Thursday Drop-In: The Lantern of Hollowmere
10/30/2025 Happy Thursday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! This week’s Drop-In is perfect for those of you ready to lean into the fog and shadows —… Read more “Thursday Drop-In: The Lantern of Hollowmere”
A Look Ahead at the Tabletop: Druids, Chimeras, and Angry Eyeballs
10/07/2025 Happy Tuesday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Another busy week on the horizon, but there are some exciting new things in the works worth keeping… Read more “A Look Ahead at the Tabletop: Druids, Chimeras, and Angry Eyeballs”
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”
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”
Landmarks Before Details — A Smarter Way to Build Your Sandbox World
04/24/2025 When it comes to building a sandbox-style campaign, it’s tempting to dive headfirst into the nitty-gritty: population numbers, grain exports, the exact shade of the duke’s… Read more “Landmarks Before Details — A Smarter Way to Build Your Sandbox World”
DM Advise: How to Weave Character Stories into Campaigns
09/27/2024 When running an engaging campaign, nothing beats the power of personal stories. Your players have invested time crafting their characters with rich histories and motivations. So… Read more “DM Advise: How to Weave Character Stories into Campaigns”