Looking at two venerable 1970s era RPGs and their similarites

This episode - I've recently started diving into the three 1977 Classic Traveler "little black books" and I'm finding some surprising similarities and philosophies to the earlier 1974 Original Dungeons & Dragons. I'll talk about those similarities and take some call-ins from folks with questions and comments! ---- My call-in guests: Daniel of Bandit's Keep podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/02QTUpzgKCv2aT6sH6G5rk Jason of Nerds RPG Variety Cast:...

How I keep track of time across groups in the same campaign world

In this episode, I answer a great question from Daniel Norton (Bandit's Keep podcast) about how I manage time and calendars across the three separate player groups and wargame campaigns I have within my AD&D world of Etinerra. ------ Bandit's Keep podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/02QTUpzgKCv2aT6sH6G5rk ------ Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message⁠⁠⁠⁠  or email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠....

In this episode, I talk about how good things come to an end… or at least an end of how they’ve been. This is all about an 8 year play by post AD&D campaign that just wrapped up a major story arc and could potentially be the end of the campaign itself, depending on what the players want to do. I also briefly touch on how Dungeon23 is going for me, as I’ve been plugging away steadily at it, and I just completed my sixth level! ------ Chronicles of Etinerra Play by Post campaign archive:...

A major 8 year arc wraps up in my play by post campaign

How the rules work versus how we think they should work

This episode, I’m going to talk about assumptions and expectations that we often have about the rules and the ways things should work - and I think that sometimes takes away from the experience of just being “in” the rules and the game and experiencing it for what it is. Then I’ll answer two call-ins. ----- Nerds RPG Variety Cast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376⁠ Confessions of a Wee Tim'rous Bushi: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NF1sMhWGIllBFS2u2w14G ---- Want to...

Yay! I hit the big Five-Oh episode with a look back at where I've been, what I've learned and what might be coming next. Plus, call-ins from Jason of Nerd's RPG Variety Cast podcast, and Daniel of Bandit's Keep podcast. ----- Link to blogpost of the new Swords & Wizardry Treasure Generator: https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com/2023/03/new-release-swords-wizardry-treasure.html Nerds RPG Variety Cast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Bandit's Keep:...

A look back and look forward across 50 episodes!

I recently took up a project to convert my GM preparation tools to a web-based table generator system called Hex-Describe. What started as just taking spreadsheet tables to text tables ended up being a journey through the AD&D core books.  This episode, I share some of that journey and just some thoughts/blathering about AD&D and topics.  ----- Hex-Describe tool: https://campaignwiki.org/hex-describe/ ----- Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on...

Converting AD&D tables to random generator programs

There are some hidden directions and implications in OD&D and AD&D on XP and leveling beyond just killing things and taking their stuff. Not quest XP, exactly, but the implication of power and influence. I ramble on a bit about that and how I handle it in my OD&D and AD&D games. Also, Dungeon23 continues! Sorry for the road noise! Commuting episodes can be like that. ----- Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on...

How I handle XP and leveling up in my games

What to do with empty dungeon rooms?

As folks are busy creating dungeons for Dungeon23, they're asking about what to do with empty rooms! This episode, I share some thoughts about how to embrace the art of empty rooms and how I approach them. ----- Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message  or email me at [email protected]. You can also leave a voicemail at ‪(312) 625-8281‬. I blog at: https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com I'm on Mastodon! Find me...

Merry Christmas! It's Christmas Eve and I have a few minutes  to answer some great call-ins. We continue the discussion and thoughts on DIY rules versus published rules. Thank you to Daniel Norton of Bandits Keep ( https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton ) and Jason of Nerd's RPG Variety Cast ( https://anchor.fm/jason376 ) for calling in! ----- Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message  or email me at [email protected]....

It was The Way for Gary/David in 1974, hopefully it could still be considered for today's games? In this episode, I share my thoughts and opinions on houseruling and thinking outside the rules - how that has changed from early D&D versions to today's games. I also share progress on my Dungeon23 megadungeon! ----- Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message  or email me at [email protected]. You can also leave a...

An interesting project is taking shape in the social media-sphere of the TTRPG world - Dungeon23! The idea is to create a room a day, completing a level a month, so that at the end of the year, you'll have a megadungeon of 12 levels, roughly 30 rooms each level. Neat! In a "commute episode", with the expected audio quality (or lack-thereof), I talk about this new project, how it comes at an interesting time and what kind of interesting things can come out of this! Plus... the dungeon in me...

For many, miniatures on the gaming table is a special part of the experience. One of the original names in Dungeons & Dragons gaming (and wargaming!) is Ral Partha. This storied name and many of the figures are now owned by Jacob Fathbruckner. During the 'teens, he ran three Kickstarters which put many old and some new Ral Partha figures back in print.  Now he's back with another Kickstarter, featuring one of the original and best sculptors in the miniatures business - Tom Meier! In...

Running a heist game in D&D isn't as easy/clear-cut as running a dungeon or wilderness adventure. This episode, I cover how I did it, in response to a vlog by Todd of Hexed Press, and because I intended on making this episode TWO YEARS AGO! ---- Link to Hexed Press vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R7atzWaaVI Link to "Kidnap the Archpriest": https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/233069/Kidnap-the-Archpriest ---- Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on...

I learn lessons from all my games, whether Play-by-Post, online or tabletop/face-to-face. This episode, I talk about how I took the druid from 1st Edition AD&D and made their initiation/level-up more about player choice than relying on combat or skill challenge rolls.  ----  Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message  or email me at [email protected].  I blog at: https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com  I'm on...

Achievement unlocked! Post-COVID tabletop gaming resumed!  In this episode, I talk about how the recent face-to-face game went and a few things to come out of it.  Link to my campaign website: https://etinerra.com/index.html  Link to Berthier wargames campaign manager: https://sites.google.com/site/berthiercampaignmanager/home  ----  Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message  or email me at...

Later this month, I'll restart my tabletop game - the third game in my AD&D campaign world. I'm also looking to restart my 1x1 game with my wife. In this episode, we discuss how I'm doing all that - how can you pick up the pieces and have a smooth transition when months, or even years, has passed?  Want to comment/ask questions? Leave me a voice message on Anchor: anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message  or email me at [email protected]. I blog at:...

Keeping the Chronicles of Etinerra campaign alive! Two of my games have fully restarted, and I'm looking to restart my tabletop campaign. A quick update! Credits: Intro music: Dragonaut by Bradley The Buyer (bit.ly/2ASpAlF) Outro music: Dream by Wild Shores (bit.ly/2jbJehK) All music used with permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thedungeonmastershandbook/message