Author Archives: David Hartlage

8 Fast Facts About D&D’s Magic Missile Spell

Posted on November 5, 2019 by David Hartlage

1. Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax introduced the Magic Missile spell in the original game’s first supplement, Greyhawk (1975). “This is a conjured missile equivalent to a magic arrow, and it does full damage (2-7 points) to any creature … Continue reading →

Posted in Role-playing game history, Rules | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Insight Played Wrong Can Become the Most Unrealistic Thing In D&D, a Game With Djinns In Bottles Who Grant Wishes

Posted on October 29, 2019 by David Hartlage

In Dungeons & Dragons Wisdom (Insight) checks commonly lead players to pile-on checks. One character talks to someone, asks to roll insight, and then everyone adds their roll. The group supposes that just one success will spot a lie. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

In D&D, Letting Everyone Roll Certain Checks Guarantees Success, So Why Bother Rolling?

Posted on October 22, 2019 by David Hartlage

As a dungeon master, I rarely ask everyone in the party to make perception, investigation, or knowledge checks, because someone almost always rolls high. With these checks, just one high roll yields the information the players want. Why bother rolling … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

How to Run Better D&D Games By Doing Less

Posted on October 15, 2019 by David Hartlage

If you are a dungeon master, the easiest way to improve your game sessions might be to do less. Rather than doing all the tasks of running the game, delegate some to the players. This lesson took me a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Why You Should Play in the D&D Adventurers League (and a New 1-Sheet Quick Start)

Posted on October 8, 2019 by David Hartlage

If you want to play more Dungeons & Dragons, but can’t find opportunities, then you must try the D&D Adventurers League. The League runs an ongoing, official campaign for D&D. This campaign lets you create a character and bring it … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventurers League | 17 Comments

How Dungeons & Dragons Got Its Ability Scores

Posted on October 1, 2019 by David Hartlage

The earliest character sheet for the game that inspired Dungeons & Dragons includes 8 character traits: Brains, Looks, Credibility, Sex, Health, Strength, Courage, and Cunning. The character comes from Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor campaign, which launched in 1971. See A History … Continue reading →

Posted in Role-playing game history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Steal This Rule: Flashbacks and Heists in Dungeons & Dragons

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David Hartlage

In a heist film, a group of experts team to overcome elaborate security measures using a carefully planned series of steps. Much of the fun comes from seeing the ingenuity of the heroes as they crack seemingly impenetrable obstacles as … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

How Much Talk at Your Game Table Reaches Into the Game World?

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David Hartlage

Suppose your players aim to stop raiders somehow able to slip past the town’s defenses. They meet the woman who leads the city guard. Mid conversation, the rogue’s player says, “I’m sure she’s behind the raids. We should just kill … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

D&D’s Animal Companions and Familiars—Choosing the Right Pet For Your Character

Posted on September 10, 2019 by David Hartlage

Many Dungeons & Dragons players love animal companions for their characters, but the game’s fifth edition suffers uneven support for the archetype. Only specific character builds gain access to pets, and creating a character with an effective companion often requires … Continue reading →

Posted in Character builds | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

10 Things in Pathfinder Second Edition I Like (and 1 I Don’t)

Posted on September 3, 2019 by David Hartlage

In 2008, Paizo sent designer Jason Buhlman to the Winter Fantasy convention to sample the upcoming fourth edition of Dungeons & Dragons and report on the game. Paizo founder Lisa Stevens recalls the outcome. “From the moment that 4th Edition … Continue reading →

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