Tag Archives: role playing

6 Popular Things in D&D That I Fail to Appreciate

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David Hartlage

I’m used to having fringe tastes: I love Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy, and science fiction. These days, none of these passions rate as weird, but only because of a recent flip in popular tastes. As a teen, all these interests … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 48 Comments

How to Create Loveable Non-Player Characters While You Supercharge Your Sex Appeal

Posted on April 2, 2019 by David Hartlage

When roleplaying game players have affection for the friends and allies in a campaign’s supporting cast, the game improves. Players who feel an attachment to non-player characters will strive to help and protect them. That draws players into the game … Continue reading →

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

How to Make Non-Player Characters That Your Players Will Like

Posted on March 26, 2019 by David Hartlage

The murderhobo stereotype sums the worst behaviors of Dungeons & Dragons player characters. Such characters roam the land, killing everything that stands in the way of treasure. They rob merchants, murder town guards trying to make an arrest, and attack … Continue reading →

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Bring the Thrill of Finding Treasure Back to the Adventurers League

Posted on March 5, 2019 by David Hartlage

Dungeons & Dragons started as a game about treasure hunting. The rules awarded as much of 80% of total experience points for finding gold, so no one missed the point. Co-creator Gary Gygax knew a thirst for gold resonated with … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventurers League | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Running Group Roleplaying Scenes—How Permission From an RPG Legend Made Me Stop Talking to Myself

Posted on February 19, 2019 by David Hartlage

Much of a dungeon master’s skill amounts to choosing the technique that suits a moment in the game. I have two examples: Maps and miniatures bring advantages, but if a character battles a sentry or flees an army, skip the … Continue reading →

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How to Get D&D Players to Make Unforgettable Character Introductions That Take a Minute or Less

Posted on July 24, 2018 by David Hartlage

Whenever I serve as a dungeon master for strangers at conventions, I learn things that improve my game. But the games where I play Dungeons & Dragons teach me too. I try to start convention games by giving players a … Continue reading →

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

Avoiding the Awkward D&D Moment When a Priest, a Wizard, and a Dwarf Enter a Bar and Nothing Happens

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David Hartlage

A few recurring types of adventure scenes make me want to fast forward the game. For instance, I dislike when an scenario starts a party in a tavern, masquerade, or other social gathering, and then expects them to spend an … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Grand Campaign, Dungeon Master Gear, Fourth Edition D&D, and Other Reactions From the Comment Section

Posted on June 26, 2018 by David Hartlage

I’m ready for another trip into the comment section. The Grand Campaign My post on the grand campaign prompted a couple of commenters to tell of their long-running grand campaigns. Michael “Chgowiz” Shorten’s game has run more than 10 years. Rick … Continue reading →

Posted in D&D fourth edition, Dungeon master's tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Most Advice for Encouraging Role-playing Stinks, But I Found the Good Stuff

Posted on April 17, 2018 by David Hartlage

Before I wrote this post, I scoured the Internet for help encouraging Dungeons & Dragons players to role play. Sometimes Dungeons & Dragons players tell me of a session where no one rolled a die because everyone role played for … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

How N1 Against the Cult of the Reptile God Changed D&D Adventures For Good

Posted on May 2, 2017 by David Hartlage

When Dungeon issue 116 ranked the 30 greatest Dungeons & Dragons adventures, N1 Against the Cult of the Reptile God landed at number 19. Ed Greenwood summed the 1982 adventure as, “Detective work, hunting for villains, some monster-bashing, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Role-playing game history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments