...and how to prepare for it. https://youtu.be/RQ9BwY3kX54 At the end of my last session I was kicking myself. I was on the bus home and thinking over how it went, and I realised that the one big set-piece that I had been planning had been unpredictably changed by a player casting a spell I didn't … Continue reading 5 Ways Players Trip Up DMs

https://youtu.be/kVDmvroubYE Failure is a guaranteed part of playing roleplaying games. A lot of systems therefore take steps towards making that failure fun, or count for something. Some try to alleviate harsh, do-or-die consequences, and others even go so far as to award the players for their failed tests. However they do it, it's what is … Continue reading Failing Up in TTRPGs

https://youtu.be/fbeSq_1V7ek Taking20 recently put out a video that listed tiers of players in roleplaying games. In this he noted the various ranks of players due to their game skill, but also their general player ability and involvement. So obviously here I am, nicking his content but changing it a bit for my own uses! I’ve … Continue reading Dungeon Master Tier List

https://youtu.be/WQrDVSH6Pqo In this brand new series from Dicey Encounters, I’m going to be talking about certain things you can steal or lift from other roleplaying systems, and implement them into your game. Think of it as like a ‘best of’ from each system, things that I think would make games like D&D better, without the … Continue reading Things To Steal From: Zweihander

https://youtu.be/9_DahftxlhM As a Forever DM, a lot of the character ideas that I have had, have made it to character sheets, but only a few have seen action. Even then, it was for one-shots or short-lived campaigns that were only up to level 3. I found my old box full of character sheets done in … Continue reading 5 Characters I Want to Play in D&D

https://youtu.be/5x_4N_L7-tQ Don't let your PCs be Gandalf. Don't make your PCs into Gandalf. Don't let their Gandalfs be Gandalfs. There, I've thoroughly confused you but perhaps launched a new buzz-phrase in the tabletop roleplaying space. "Why Gandalf; what's the beef?" I hear you ask. Well let me tell you about Gandalf, and you can see … Continue reading Don’t Let Your PCs Be Gandalf

https://youtu.be/aKphh2nehus We stand on the brink of another year full of roleplaying goodness, but I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to see from Wizards of the Coast in 2019. During the last year we’ve seen some interesting stuff like Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica, the Waterdeep Dragon Heist adventure and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, but … Continue reading D&D In 2019 – What I Want To See

https://youtu.be/V8zDl5r21_U If you’ve ever tried to introduce people to Dungeons and Dragons, role-playing games, video games, or even board games, you can be met with an alarmed bewilderment from the people you want to include. If someone has had no proximity to any of these hobbies, or maybe one or two, then they’re pre-existing notions … Continue reading Improving Diversity in D&D

https://youtu.be/YtgAjc8mS0k For this blog, I’m going to be talking directly to the players. The DMs get a break from constantly being told what to do, and now it’s the player’s turns. I’d like to discuss character creation because frankly, I know there are a lot of pitfalls and educating to be done just to complete … Continue reading 5 tips for Character Creation in D&D