Unboring quest-givers: More than notice boards
What do you do when the classic tropes aren’t fun anymore? Rather than having the mysterious old wizard tell the PCs what to do, why not do this?
Unboring paladins: more than killjoys
This is my shortest ever post because the fix couldn’t be easier. The paladin is this close to being exciting, but that margin drives them into boringness. Here’s the solution.
QQ&A: How to create and remember NPC names
Coming up with NPC names should be easy, so why isn’t it? And how do you remember names you come up with on the fly?
Unboring priests: more than rez dispensers
Priests are spiritual leaders in a world where gods create real miracles. What sort of person would go into that line of work?
Bring back the players’ ancient fear
There’s a fear built into the human brain - something raw, ancient and powerful. So why does 5e handle it so bizarrely?
QQ&A: What’s a better currency than coins?
Tracking gold and minor purchases is boring and pointless busywork. What’s a better alternative to gold pieces?
The broken fae formula
If I asked you to design a new fae race, what would you come up with? Forget their physical traits and focus on their minds. If you take the boring, obvious path, you’re not alone - but here’s how to do better.
Unboring merchants: more than vending machines
Merchants can be more than just talking storefronts for players. But they don’t need elaborate backstories. Here are four variables to build your merchants with, based on how they run their businesses.
QQ&A: How do you make whips cool?
The whip is awesome on paper, but mechanically pathetic. Besides bumping the stats, what can we do to make it worth using?
Unboring Barbarians: more than clones of Conan
Barbarians aren’t “angry” and they aren’t all uncivilised nomads. If you’re sick of playing the same-old half-clad warriors, then it’s time to draw inspiration from history.
Unboring angels: more than haloed humans
Angels can make any fantasy campaign more exciting. Then again, they can also just be yet another monster for the party to fight. Here’s one way to keep them special.
QQ&A: Spicing up the tavern meeting
After a while, your players will have begun many campaigns. So how do you keep the beginning fresh without tossing away the tavern?
Unboring gnomes: more than tiny goofballs
Gnomes are too silly for even a semi-serious campaign. Or are they? What if the giggles and rainbow illusions are a mask for something deeper?
Change the shape, not just the skin
Think Klingons and Vulcans are too human? “Yeah, it’s just a little bit of makeup!” Oh, that’s the least of the issues…
Unboring soldiers: More than cannon fodder
Town guards, frontline soldiers, initiates in a cult… why are they in that line of work? Based on how they usually act, it’s so they can die at a PC’s hand. Here’s a richer approach.
QQ&A: A simple way to create mysteries
There are many ways to run a mystery. This one works quickly and… well? Well enough, anyway.
Unboring halflings: more than just smallfolk
If halflings are just hobbits but without the risk of lawsuits, then why do any become adventurers? Frodo was literally exceptional. Also… how could halflings, of all people, live so peacefully?
Give them a world that lives and breathes
Take your humble campaign. Now imagine it avoids the blunders a billion-dollar studio stumbled into. How cool is that, hey?
When hit points don’t exist
Spend a few minutes thinking about hit points and you’ll realise they don’t make sense. There’s an easy fix to most of the problems - stop thinking they always exist.
QQ&A: How to do horror
How do you add horror to D&D? The first step is seeing how you can’t.