Dragon Mag’s Instant Adventures

The April 1981 issue of Dragon Magazine included an article with a tantalizing premise: INSTANT ADVENTURES. "Here are the ideas!" the magazine promises; " - just add imagination!" The premise of the article was to provide a handy list of adventure ideas, described only in the broadest terms, along with a classification system for how … Continue reading Dragon Mag’s Instant Adventures →

Episode 019 (Text): A Helping Hand

When we last left our heroes…GEL, NUTMEG, SISTER D, and INGA returned from the jungles victorious over their hateful scaly foes. While celebrating their victories, they spied an owl-riding elf tumbling from the sky. Now, having found the fallen elf, they seek to avenge him and his comrades - against the forces of the mysterious Red Hand...

Episode 018 (Text): As Through a Spyglass Lewdly

When we last left our heroes…NUTMEG, SISTER D, GEL, and INGA set out into the jungles of the Lizard’s Tongue in search of some troublesome gatorfolk cultists. After ingesting a number of psychotropic substances, Nutmeg experienced a cascade of mental breaks. Now the party returns to GATORSBURG victorious - although Nutmeg still seems a little different...

Episode 017 (Text): Temple of the Gator

When we last left our heroes...NUTMEG, SISTER D, and GEL reached the town of GATORSBURG, where they met with paranoid Mayor Denzel and helped their friend INGA LIZARDBREAKER put out a fire. Now on the hunt for the source of Gatorsburg’s mysterious fires, they embark on a dangerous journey into the jungles of the Lizard’s Tongue...

Episode 016 (Text): Return of Lizardbreaker

When we last left our heroes...NUTMEG and GELMAHTA expanded their interests in Dwarroway, including real estate holdings and eliminating a vengeful halfling crime boss - all in a day’s work for the dynamic duo. Now, they are on their way to Gatorsburg, where their friend INGA LIZARDBREAKER has asked for their aid...

Episode 015 (Text): The Dark Duchess of Dwarroway

When we last left our heroes...NUTMEG, GELMAHTA, and SISTER DONDALLA returned to Dwarroway from their long mission to Khaddakar. They received a letter from an old friend, asking for their help down south...but Dwarroway, which they left burning, has changed in their absence, and a mysterious DUCHESS has taken the place of the crime-lord DUKE…

Episode 14: Dungeons and Dragons (Text)

When we last left our heroes...they met a dragon. Specifically, SAEVERIX, who in turn was an obstacle to the devious gray dwarves. Upon realizing that the gray dwarves possessed his axe and belongings, NUTMEG agreed to help them slay SAEVERIX, down in the bowels of the mountain fortress of Khaddakar. Together with the gray dwarves, our heroes prepare to embark on their most ambitious adventure yet...

BREAKING: Biological Essentialism is Not Good

This, I think, is where the future of RPG character design has to go: fixing the fundamental assumptions about biologically essential traits carried by different races. I'm not going to praise WOTC until I see what actually changes, but I'm glad their eyes are drawn to the roots of race in game design. Tying objective game mechanics to something as subjective and political as race is, ultimately, a cop-out. Good games eliminate that junk.

D&D Adventure Review – Wreck Ashore

I’ve written before about how much I rely on tweaking pre-written adventure modules. It’s a great way to save time on adventure prep - start with the bones, and then add your own flesh. And muscles, and a stomach, and other organs. If you’ve listened to (or read) the Chronicles, you might notice the way … Continue reading D&D Adventure Review – Wreck Ashore →

Episode 012: The Skill to Catch a Nutmeg (Text)

When we last left our heroes...NUTMEG had fallen. Down a big chasm. When last seen alive, he was carried away into darkness by mysterious scaly creatures. GEL and SISTER D carried on through the goblin lair in Khaddakar, where they learned much about the mission of the RED HAND. Now, they descend into the mountain, in search of their lost friend...