About

DM David in actionBack in 1977, in my school lunchroom, I overheard some boys at the next table talking about a game where your character went into a dungeon, battled monsters, and gained experience that made him even better.

The concept electrified me.

Later at home, I opened the telephone book, and started calling hobby shops until I found a distant, magical store with a copy of Dungeons & Dragons on the shelves.

Since then, I’ve experimented with Traveler, Runequest, The Fantasy Trip, and GURPS. I’ve run virtually rules-free games, and designed my own homebrew RPG.

Third edition lured me back to my first gaming love of Dungeons & Dragons.

You can find me now serving as dungeon master a weekly D&D encounters session, occasional Adventurers’ League games, and judging at the big gaming conventions.

75 thoughts on “About”

  2. Scott W.

    Your dungeon tile gallery may be one of the most valuable resources I have found online in a long while! I have a LOT of tiles and I’ve been wanting to put the sets back together (in bags or boxes, etc.) and your site is IDEAL!!! Thank you for doing this!!!

    Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Scott, Thanks for the good word. Your encouragement inspires me to think of other resources that I could add. For instance, sometime I plan to do a gallery of poster battle maps that’s more complete than others available on the web.

      Reply ↓
    2. Josh H.

      This! Thank you so much. I ended up just selecting the pictures of the tiles and printing selection. Came out to 2 pagers/set, easy reference for which set to look in for the piece I want.

      Reply ↓
  3. Eric

    Thanks for the gallery of dungeon tiles. Viewing them is helping me determine which sets to purchase. You have provided us with a great resource.

    Time to start reading some of your posts.

    I will direct friends to your site.

    Reply ↓
  4. Brett Phillips

    I randomly stumbled upon your blog and have quickly added it to my MUST READ list. You have a plethora of amazing ideas, tips, tricks, and commentaries. Thank you so much for publishing this and I can’t wait to become an active part of this community.

    Reply ↓
  5. Josh

    I just wanted to let you know that I am enjoying your blog – lots of good tips for Dungeon Tiles use, and lots of insightful ideas for the tabletop. Keep up the great work!

    Reply ↓
  6. tari

    Hi David,
    Congrats on your website! I have installed pymapper but cannot load any tiles on it (I downloaded Dungeons Master Set and Ruins of War) Any hint is welcome.
    Thank you 🙂

    Reply ↓
  7. Tari

    Hello,
    Thanks for your site. It’s really useful and inspiring. I am interested in the sets for pymapper but cannot find them anywhere. Could you please share some links?
    Thank you

    Reply ↓
  9. SiriusT

    It all started with heavily home-ruling 4E for a low-magic campaign my girlfriend was DMing in her own setting. Once WotC announced Next, I gave up on all the tethers I kept to ensure functionality within 4E, and soon found myself so far from base that I scrapped D&D entirely. I started building out from the original rules and mechanics I’d created, to finally make a game that represented my own ideal balance of verisimilitude and playability.

    After 3 decades of gaming (intensely for a few years, then off, then back on again, etc), I’m writing my own TRPG. As I attempt to embody my aspirations as a player into a ruleset, I’m hoovering all the data and commentary on existing systems that I can. This blog has proved to be among the most useful things I’ve found in the 2 years (so far) of this project.
    Your balanced insights and engaging history lessons have been great in spurring creativity and helping me avoid mistakes.

    I just wanted to say, “thanks.” Oh, and please keep going!

    Reply ↓
  10. Petrikje

    Hey DmDavid; I recently found your website and found it both entertaining and interesting. I do notice, however, that your library of dungeon tiles seems to lack images of the “Master Set – The Dungeon”, “Master Set – The Wilderness” and “Master Set – The City”. Somewhere around new year I should receive my second set of each of them (I like them a lot), so if you want me to snap a few pictures of the sets while they’re intact, just let me know. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Petrikje,
      I will gladly accept your offer. I’ve always wanted to add the master sets to the gallery, but I lack intact versions.
      Thanks!

      Reply ↓
  11. Timothy Forrester

    Hi David
    I am 24 and just started really getting interested in dnd. I never was a big board game guy. Neither was my family but my brother got me the starter set 5th edition for Christmas. Well needless to say I’m am in awe and am ready to learn more. What do I need to buy ? I bought the players manual today. Can I use 4th edition tiles with the 5th edition stuff? Do I need miniatures? Sorry about the questions but you know what your talking about if you would just take a few minutes to answer those questions that would be great! I will be reading through your website as well! Thanks!
    Tim

    Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Tim,
      Welcome to the game and thanks for reading. I’ve been considering a post on the basics you need to buy to run a game. Your question may spur me to write that post. Here’s the short answer.

      To start, all you really need is the free-to-download Basic Rules and a set of dice. The Player’s Handbook expands your character options and makes a good first purchase. If you want to be a Dungeon Master, the Monster Manual adds monsters beyond those in the free Basic Game. The Dungeon Master’s Guide can wait until you’ve run a few games and feel like you want a deeper dive. It’s a great book, but you could play for years without it.

      I prefer to run most encounters on a battle map, so I recommend the Basic Pathfinder Flip-Mat. You can draw maps on the mat using either wet or dry erase markers, and then wipe them off. You do not need to invest in miniatures. Instead, just use any tokens that you can tell apart. For example, a lot of convention judges use Starbust candies to represent creatures on the battle map. They come in a variety of colors, and players like to eat the monsters they slay. You can also use 1-inch washers or game pieces from other games. D&D is a game of imagination first.

      While you can use the 4E dungeon tiles with the 5E game, you hardly need them. The 5E game plays so much faster than 4E that you won’t want to pause to lay tiles.
      —
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  12. b$

    I like your site! I’m preparing my first campaign for my first time as Dungeon Master. And I have a question: How do you determine if your monster/s or villian/s are the appropriate level for your characters? Thanks!

    Reply ↓
  13. Michael J

    Hi David,

    Just wanted to say I think your site is great. Every time I come here and read your articles I feel empowered. I never feel like I’ve wasted my time. You always have very insightful things to say. It’s great that I can come away feeling like I understand this hobby more, as well as feeling like I can immediately become a better Dungeon Master.

    Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  14. Bob

    I truly appreciate your immense knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons. I have searched many sites for information and yours is the most complete site I have ever come across.

    Thanks to this I have purchased nearly all I need for an amazing event I will be holding at our shop…except for one thing the Lair assault: Temple of the Sky God.

    I simply cannot find this ANYWHERE for sale! I just don’t get it! Was this an actual module? I have managed to get unopened modules from 2004 in mint condition, yet cannot find any for this and it is only from 2012.

    Help please! I really need this badly. Do you have any info that could help me find it? Specifically I need the maps more than anything.

    Reply ↓
  15. Jayson Graves

    Hi DMDavid,

    My name is Jayson Graves. I am part of It’s Just Soup, and we have a new
    product on Kickstarter called ‘Epic Hero and Villain Feat Cards’.

    I think they are something that you and your readers would appreciate.

    Check it out if you have a second and let me know what you think. We are over 300% Funded with 10 days to go and we’d like your opinion on if we have a product worth listing.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/389421612/epic-hero-and-villain-feat-cards.

    Or http://goo.gl/kVh0Lw
    I have some more information available for you at http://www.itsjustsoup.com if you’d like. Feel free to
    email me at itsjustsoup.com@gmail.com

    Thank you for reading this far,

    Jayson Graves

    Reply ↓
  16. Edward

    I have several different maps and tiles that I have been collecting and “cleaning” up over the years. I continuously search the internet looking for ones that I don’t have or ones that are better then what I currently have. This is an awesome site that provides many I don’t have. If anyone would like to trade or might want to see what I have just let me know.

    Reply ↓
  17. Eric

    Hi David,

    We’re roughly the same age — I’m a huge fan.

    What’s the “best” 5e module you’ve come across to date?

    Thanks!

    PS — what’s your email?

    Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Eric,
      Thanks for the kind words. For me, Out of the Abyss had a rough start, but it has developed into my favorite. The Lost Mine of Phlandelver also merits consideration.

      You can reach me by sending to dave at this domain.
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Geoffrey,
      Thanks for honoring my blog with the nomination. I started DMDavid because I felt an itch to talk about D&D’s design and history. During the first year or so, when I wrote purely for kicks for no readers, I figured I would try to keep going for a year. Eventually, I thought someone at a con might recognize my DM screen or that another blog might cite one of my posts.

      Anyway, kudos like yours keep me writing. Plus, I’m still having fun sounding off about D&D.
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Jeff,
      Glad you like the blog. Encouragement from readers keeps me writing. I’ll keep the D&D history coming. Thanks!
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  20. zek-zion

    Hi DMDavid

    I am rather new to actually running as a DM myself, used to be into it in 3.5 but couldn’t quite make heads or tails of the rules half the time, but your website has helped me making sense of a lot of things since I found it, just wanting to say what im sure you get a lot

    Thank you very much.

    Also not sure if I’ve just looked over it or not but I have been wondering what all could a DM do with like creating custom magic and legendary items for the other players to find, that you know would not just make the game far to easy for them, cause I do put them through a lot and I do want them to find stuff other then 10 – 20 gold.

    Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Zek-Zion,
      I’m delighted that my site has helped your game.

      Fifth edition’s rule for attunement makes breaking the game with too much magic harder than in 3.5.

      If you want to make magic items seem more special, give them an interesting description and some flavorful side effects. For instance, a wand could be shaped like a tentacle and constantly damp. A frostbrand sword might give its wielder a bluish color and make their breath fog. Then have your players give their new magic sword a name.
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  21. Jeff

    Please, please, please … the internet needs posts from you at a much more frequent pace. I love your blog. It’s a fantastic gaming resource.

    Reply ↓
    1. DM David Post author

      Hi Jeff,
      I’m grateful for the words of encouragement. Whenever I feel like skipping the next post, comments like yours drive me back to writing. As for more, I’m typing as fast and often as I can. Thanks!
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  22. Tony Dunkin-Moscato

    I love the site! You have many excellent posts. I think my favorite so far is the one about Wandering Monsters, which brings me to my request.

    Well met fellow adventurer!

    I always feel silly starting a conversation with a total stranger by saying ”well met’ but I try to stay in character. Feel free to delete this if I’ve offended you.

    I do enjoy your opinions, and so I am hoping you will consider my Kickstarter for review.

    …
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1141200191/lair-of-the-black-dragon

    As a Player, have you ever wanted to adventure but couldn’t find a DM?

    As a DM, have you ever had players wanting to keep going, but you didn’t have anything prepared?

    This is a complete adventure ready to be played through in a single sitting of 2-3 hours. It can be dropped into any campaign, and is designed so it can be played in several different ways;

    What it is: This project is a system neutral, solo-play, one-shot, complete adventure module for characters of any level.

    What that means:

    System Neutral means it is not dependent on any specific rule set or edition, and can therefore be dropped into just about ANY role playing campaign world setting. If your game rules use polyhedral dice, then this will work for you. It was written primarily for the most common traditional fantasy role-playing game settings, but it can be adapted for many other worlds with just a little imagination.

    Solo-Play means it can be played by a single person without a DM. It can be played with multiple players with or without a DM as well. It has a flexible design and concept so it can be used in many different ways. Though it was designed to be played by a lone player by themselves, it can be played with a group of players and multiple characters, or even with a DM.

    One-Shot means it is able to be completed in a single 2-3 hour sitting. This is also flexible in that you can increase the level of challenge (with more or stronger monsters) to increase the length of play time, or you can decrease the number of challenges to shorten the play session.

    Complete Adventure Module means that everything you need to get through this adventure is contained in the PDF, HOWEVER, this is NOT a stand-alone game. SEE ALSO: What it is NOT:

    For Characters of Any Level means that this module is scalable. You can increase or decrease the challenge based on the experience level of your character or characters.

    What it is NOT: This is NOT a stand-alone Role Playing Game rules set. The rules and mechanics for a Role Playing Game are not part of this. This is just an add-on, like an expansion, for whatever Role Playing Game system you currently use. You will need at least the basic guidebooks for whatever Role Playing System you normally use.

    I will be relaunching at the end of March.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1141200191/lair-of-the-black-dragon

    …

    If this sounds like something that interests you, I’ll send you a ‘blogger’s version’ to review.

    Let me know what you think. And I apologize for the intrusion.

    Good journeys (there I go again, in character)

    -Tony
    infinitum3d@hotmail.com

    Reply ↓
  23. Martin

    Hi DM David. Just wanted to let you know that your blog is very appreciated and a tremendous resource. It started with me using your Dungeon Tiles gallery (to figure out which ones I’d want to get) but I realized that your monthly articles are a gem. Keep up the great work! I was also a teenage DM in the 1980s (back in the day when the original printing Deities & Demigods still had the Cthulhu Mythos included), then left the hobby for a couple decades as real life took me away from gaming, only to come back now when 5th Edition lured me back.

    Reply ↓
  24. Joe Masucci

    Great blog you have here. I also found your maps and tiles sections invaluable. Thanks for that. I’m currently enjoying reading your posts specific to the origins of D&D and was wondering two things. First, where are you getting the information? And second, would you consider publishing it as a book? There is a lack of this type of material out there and the audience is getting larger, I think. Your writing chops are superior so if you were considering it, consider this an unbiased, unsolicited request. Kudos DM David.

    Reply ↓
    1. David Hartlage Post author

      Hi Joe,
      Thanks for the kind words! Most of my information for my posts on the origins of AD&D comes from interviews, forum posts, and articles written by the folks involved. I’ve also drawn from books on the subject. Jon Peterson’s exhaustive, scholarly tome Playing at the World tells the story of D&D’s creation. I drew some tidbits from Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It by Dave Ewalt, Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons by Michael Witwer, and HAWK & MOOR- The Unofficial History of Dungeons & Dragons by Kent David Kelley. As for the book, I’ll never say never.
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  25. Dan

    Seriously enjoyed finding your site. I found it while searching for Dungeons and Dragons Tiles. I’ll definitely be back to read more. Best, Dan

    Reply ↓
  27. David Mitchard

    Hi David. I love your blog. I came across it while doing web searches about the Fez Tournament and the D&D Open.

    I’m one of the guys that runs Nascrag these days. We are still going strong. Gen Con 50 will be the 38th anniversary of Nascrag and the original Fez: Valley of Trees.

    Dave Mitchard, Nascrag

    Reply ↓
  28. Tim D

    Just a little information about us older players and treasure. Yes there was a lot. We used it to go up in levels. We used it to build dominions, wjich had army’s and fleets. It cost a lot to pay all these people. Ships weren’t free. Troops weren’t free. And with 36 levels it gave more to do than dungeon delving. Now milestone leveling is ok because it keeps a party closer together in levels, as long as they earn it. And if you’re playing a new 5th edition printed campaign it sometimes forces a DM to just let people level up which seems a bit broken at some points. 5e has become more of like D&D in the microwave. Seriously when you give campaign books meant to take you characters to level 20 it takes something from the game. Also it removes a lot of character growth. But it’s faster right. Dave Arneson had a different outlook that Frank Mentzer ran with for over two decades. Well into second edition. Now in 5e I encourage my players to find these creative uses for money. And it’s easy to give larger amounts through the use of gems and jewelry and platinum. For those who have the spunk to buy a ship or build a castle I just use the early D&D prices. Not much changed there. 5e is actually a little thin on this info without looking thru a bunch of books on many things. As a matter of fact, 5e has almost reduced the need for torches to nil.

    Reply ↓
  29. cedric

    Hello, I am a big fan of your blog. Me and my friend have been playing dungeons an dragons for nearly a year now and we are having a blast!
    We had the idea of starting a dnd blog of our own and share our posts with the world. Can you tell me what you think about our blog(I’ll link it here). Thanks in advance.
    https://goblingathering.blogspot.com

    Reply ↓
  33. DM_Bill

    David:

    Hi, I’m a DM from the St. Louis area, would love to meet up some time! Been following your site for almost 2 years now. I also played D&D Basic Set in 1977, assigned a dwarf archer by my dad, his brother, and his cousins. They needed ranged support one particular night, and I have been playing ever since…

    1.5 years ago, me, a brother, his wife, a cousin, and an uncle, resurrected our AD&D First Edition books from our basements. I called forth my 30 year old campaign, “Vikings of North America” and it was a big hit!

    (side note, for locals: Chicago was founded by Vikings because the Great Lakes were connected to the Atlantic. St. Louis was the capital of a huge Midwest-spanning Undead Empire)

    The campaign just ended and we are now trying to update our rules set. Pathfinder Second Edition is our choice, but the learning curve between AD&D First Edition and that game is huge.

    I don’t understand why they took out the level limits for races other then humans. I prefer a game where humans are the norm, not the exception. That seems to be the biggest difference at first glance between these systems. In my First Edition game, players had to seriously ask themselves if they wanted the level limit penalty to play a non-human. Now that we are playing Pathfinder Second Edition, I don’t have a single player seriously considering a human.

    This is going to have a major impact on my newest campaign idea: “Caledonia and the Age of Iron”. The Romans are bringing civilization to make the world safe for humanity. But nobody wants to play a human!

    Could you do an article about humans versus non-humans, and the importance of the First Edition level cap, please!

    THANKS!

    Reply ↓
    1. Dan

      In my experience, many players just want to play non-humans regardless. I played AD&D for many years, and only one player ever really considered the level cap. Over half were playing elves at one point. Later on in 4th and 5th editions, WotC would even go on to make humans objectively the most powerful race in terms of game benefits, with their choice of ability score bonus, bonus skill, and bonus feat, but still that doesn’t sway most people.

      Reply ↓
      1. DM_Bill

        Dan:

        Yeah, my cousin wanted to play a dwarf, but didn’t want the level cap, so started out human. After two games, he wasn’t liking his character so I let him retro it to dwarf, after which he was playing the guy he wanted.

        As it turned out, by the end of the campaign, he was very near level cap.

        If I start “Vikings” up again at some point, it will definitely matter…

        Reply ↓
  35. David Serhienko

    DM David,

    You were one of the DM’s for me and my friends at GenCon 2017. We had a blast, in case I didn’t tell you, thank you!

    A question: That year, the DM’s had a certificate that let them roll at advantage or something, but then they had to give one of us inspiration or similar?

    I was hoping you remembered it and could tell me the actual details?

    Thanks!
    David S

    Reply ↓
    1. David Hartlage Post author

      Hi David,
      Thanks for the kind words! I remember the certificate, although I can’t find my copy. As I recall, the sheet allowed to take advantage on 6 rolls through the course of the convention. In exchange, you gave inspiration to the players. The certificate aimed to add to the peril of the Tomb of Annihilation season of Adventurers League.
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  36. Noelia Garcia Novas

    Hello David!

    We just launched a Kickstarter campaign and would be honoured for you to check it out and give us your feedback.

    It is a deck of pregenerated level 1 character cards with awesome art, unique backgrouns, roleplaying hooks and all the necessary information to take the first steps into DnD 5e.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deckofheroes/deck-of-heroes-5e-rpg-supplement

    We love your blog. Thanks so much for all the content you generate for the community.

    Noelia

    Reply ↓
  37. Paul Ericksen

    Thanks so much for each dungeon tile set’s photos. Helped me sort out more than 12 sets I got into the correct groups/packages. Saved me so much time!

    Reply ↓
  38. Eric

    Hi David — I just wanted to say thanks for the wonderful blog. I just completed my quarantine project, a 5E conversion of Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, and your ideas were very influential — it’s to your credit, for example, that I avoided giving any of the many (MANY) cleric NPCs the Banishment spell. 🙂 Anyway, I link to your blog in my Acknowledgments.
    All best, Eric

    Reply ↓
  39. Amber K.

    I wanted to comment on your Sentinel + Polearm Master build. You have missed a vital part of this build, which at the current time my DM has outlawed 😛

    I haven’t checked Tasha’s yet to see if it made it into actual gameplay (I seriously doubt it) but the Tunnel Fighting style from the UA made PM + S into a dangerous and endless defense in certain situation. Add in some good old fashioned great weapon and it becomes very hard for anyone else to get an attack in edgewise.

    Tunnel Fighting: You excel at defending narrow passages, doorways, and other tight spaces. As a bonus action, you can enter a defensive stance that lasts until the start of your next turn. While in your defensive stance, you can make OPPORTUNITY ATTACKS without using your reaction, and you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against a creature that moves more than 5ft while within your reach.

    Polearm Master: While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, or quarterstaff, other creatures provoke an OPPORTUNITY ATTACK from you when they enter your reach.

    Sentinel: You have mastered techniques to take advantage of every drop in any enemy’s guard, gaining the following benefits:
    **Whenever you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, its speed drops to 0 for the rest of the turn. THIS STOPS ANY MOVEMENT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN TAKING.

    **Creatures within your reach provoke opportunity attacks even if they took the Disengage action.

    When a creature within your reach makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn’t have this feat), you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the attacking creature.

    SO: in summary – I stand here. You try to close with me. As you attempt to enter my reach I make an opportunity attack. If I hit you, your speed drops to 0 and you do not enter my reach. I can do this as many times a turn as someone tries to get close to me, as long as I use my bonus action each turn to enter my stance. If you do manage not to get hit initially, I can take another opportunity attack when you move from 10ft to 5ft. Still allowing me to stop you at the 10ft mark. If I have enough room, on my turn I can simply take a 5ft movement backwards (or more) and start the game again. (Add in someone to deal with ranged attacks somehow and we are the invicible defense force at level 4.

    Your welcome. 😛

    Reply ↓
  40. Daryan

    Hey David,

    I just came across your blog for the first time and I am really enjoying reading through it. It seems you have a lot of very good tips in the DM realm which I am very interested in because I am new to the DMing scene and I find it super fun to put together campaigns and stories that the players enjoy. I always find I have the most fun DMing when my players are able to piece together Easter eggs/foreshadowing I put in. Or start to understand and get entertainment from the stories as they develop. Thanks for writing this great content I will be putting it to good use!

    Myself and some of my players recently launched a Kickstarter for a DND style cookbook and we would love it if you would be able to help us share it. We have heard some awesome feedback so far about the idea and just need to expand our reach so we can bring it to life. If you are interested in checking it out here is the link :

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tomeofcookery/tome-of-cookery

    Thanks again and keep up the great work!

    Daryan

    Reply ↓
  41. Anthony Green

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    Reply ↓
  44. Hunter Stardust

    Dear David,

    I am an old school guy with no social media and so I am writing you today to share news of the release of my new adventure on DMsGuild with you. Would love to have you review it and I’d be happy to chat or message with you if you have any questions. Thanks for your time and consideration!

    https://www.dmsguild.com/product/394477/Rescuing-Lulu-From-Elturel-Descent-from-Waterdeep-Series?affiliate_id=2993800

    Rescuing Lulu from Elturel seamlessly connects Waterdeep: Dragon Heist into Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus and beyond, and is a 3-5 session Adventure for 4th level characters. Alternatively, it transforms Elturel into an historically researched 25-location sandbox for any campaign traversing the Sword Coast, or can be used to add meaningful roleplaying and content to either Tyranny of Dragons or Descent to Avernus.

    Warmly,
    Hunter

    Reply ↓
  45. Richard Tetzel

    Dear David,

    I found your blog, so I thought you might be interested in TableTone.

    TableTone is live on Kickstarter now and got funded in 1 hour! We are so grateful that this goal was reached so fast and excited to head for the stretch goals, as they will make TableTone even better.

    You can find more information about TableTone here:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YXMAoS1ttyBDa-XwUYuVbzjJTphJgSQD?usp=sharing

    Is this interesting for you to write about it? Please feel free to ask me any questions,

    Best Regards,
    Richard

    Reply ↓
  46. William P White

    Hi David, and fellow Sword and Sorcery enthusiasts,

    I am Dr. W. Penn White, an avid Dungeons and Dragons player and DM for almost fifty years. Now retired from my clinical practice, I decided to follow my passion for the genre and have written my first fantasy novel, an amalgamation of the adventures I’ve developed over the years. Recently released on KDP, called “The Prince of Tabor,” I’ve included a synopsis of the book for your preview:

    Many centuries before the age of Man, as the ancient chronicles tell, Tabor, the second greatest kingdom on earth, was under siege. The king had died in battle, and the queen had died in childbirth. As the enemy was closing in, the infant heir escaped far away to the tiny hamlet of Streamside. Brought up in a boisterous tavern by his brother Jacoby, Nathaniel could not know that the trumpets of war had again sounded and that a greater army than ever, its leaders bent on revenge and world dominion, threatened a vastly weakened Tabor. He would be forced onto a quest of unparalleled magic and danger by unknown forces. Hellbent on world control, evil necromancer Crepitus sent assassins to Streamside, forcing Nathaniel and his brother into a fight for existence and a struggle to regain his birthright and save his kingdom.

    An epic of dark fantasy of immense sweep, The Prince of Tabor blends Norse mythology and supernatural adventure in a world filled with mythical creatures and unparalleled heroism. Prepare for a thrilling ride as Nathaniel and his brother fight their way through goblins, dragons, wizards, and more to reclaim a lost kingdom and save the world.

    Please review the book, read it if possible, and consider suggesting it to your blog readers. I can also provide a link to my website, http://www.ThePrinceofTabor.com.

    Thank you,

    W. Penn White MD

    Reply ↓
  47. Scott Anderson

    DM David, I hope you still read this thread.

    This summer I am running a large OSR table for preteens in weeklong blocks.

    Can you suggest to me some older adventure path style modules in ODD – 2e style?

    I’m thinking G series and A series. May run B10 for a week.

    What do you think?

    Reply ↓
  48. Andrea

    Dear,

    In Spring 2023 Jap Sam Books will publish the book Role of Play by Professor Ben Schouten and Menno van Pelt-Deen (games4diversity.com).

    In this publication we will give an overview of the role of play in society. We want to illustrate the book with as many images and examples as possible and therefore we would love to include one image from the website,

    Would it be possible to get your permission to include this image in the book with full printed credit?
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ndiLq8sJvaKaK6Q9mO7r02YazkR_ALBb/view?usp=share_link

    Jap Sam Books is requesting permission to reproduce the images for print, ebook, global, English language, for the life of the edition, full colour or bl/w.The print-run of the first edition of the book will be around 1.000-1.500 copies.

    Thanks.
    Kind regards,

    Andrea Mologni
    [editorial assistant]

    Reply ↓
    1. David Hartlage Post author

      Hi Andrea,
      You are welcome to use that image in your publication.
      –
      David Hartlage

      Reply ↓
  49. Mauri

    Hi David, I just discovered your blog and I really enjoy the material. I’ve discovered because I recently release a small platform I’ve been developing on my own where users can create their own D&D campaigns and power them with AI. taleplAI https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.taleplAI.taleplAI
    I noticed that a few of my users are uploading images from your site to create their stories. If you think there is a problem with that I’ll go ahead and take down those campaigns and let my users know the reasons.
    Thanks!

    Reply ↓
  50. jimbarr

    Hi Dave!

    I stumbled on your site through a suggested page on Facebook, and talk about a blast from the past. Regrettably, I haven’t done any real gaming since our sessions way back when as life has taken me in many other directions. But I admit that I occasionally do break out and page through my old D&D and Travellar books. I don’t think I have my Adventure Quest binder anymore–I’ll have to look.

    Anyway, can’t wait to dig through this site and revel in lots of reminiscing of good gaming times!

    -Jim

    PS: Still holed up in the Hubbard Base waiting for the Thrith to arrive….

    Reply ↓
    1. David Hartlage Post author

      Hi Jim,
      I’m thrilled to see you show up in my comments section! I still have vivid memories of those games at the Speyer’s kitchen table where we rolled dice, ate Villa Rosa pizza, and drank the original Coke that Mike stockpiled before New Coke replaced it.

      As you can see, in the late 90s I rediscovered my love of D&D, started running games again at my local store and at conventions, and then started writing about the game.

      In item 3 of this post, I mention the Homebound game we ran at Gen Con. I’m still very proud of what we accomplished with that tournament.

      I’m pleased and impressed that you still remember the details of our campaign with the Hubbard base and the Thrith. I loved that campaign.

      All the best,
      Dave

      Reply ↓
  51. Lee Smart

    Hi Dave,

    We would love our website/resources, dnd dice to be added to your list of DM Tools. Is there somewhere I can send some information to?

    Could offer a discount or free digital item to your audience.

    Lee

    Reply ↓
  52. Mike

    Dave,

    I’m Mike from EpicWorldBuilder.com, and I’ve been incredibly impressed with the resources you’ve curated in your DM Tools list. Given the synergy between our platforms, I’d be thrilled if you’d consider adding [EpicWorldBuilder](https://epicworldbuilder.com) to your list.

    Mike
    EpicWorldBuilder.com

    Reply ↓
  53. Chase Carver

    Hello David,

    I am the author of the « Carnet d’un DM » blog, a French blog on RPG stuff (carnetdundm.fr).

    I am working on an Advent Calendar and I wanted to know if you would allow me to translate one (or two) of your articles in french?

    Of course, you will be credited and the link of the original article will be at the beginning of the translation article.

    Don’t hesitate if you have any questions.

    Thanks a lot and have a great day!

    Chase

    Reply ↓
    1. David Hartlage Post author

      Hi Chase,
      You are welcome to translate one or two of my posts to French for your blog. Best wishes,
      –
      Dave

      Reply ↓

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