BlackDragonCan
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social
Bhakashal Spell Book: https://www.lulu.com
Bhakashal Blog: http://dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2024/05/?m=1
Blog Index: https://dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2024/10/building-bhakashal-organizing-blog-ive.html
Bhakashal Blog: http://dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2024/05/?m=1
Blog Index: https://dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2024/10/building-bhakashal-organizing-blog-ive.html
Pinned
I’m working on a AD&D retroclone named Bhakashal. I have completed the Bhakashal Spell Book, a tome with more than 400 new spells, designed for the setting and compatible with any old school fantasy TTRPG.
Search on www.lulu.com (print/PDF)or www.drivethrurpg.com (PDF) for “Bhakashal”
Search on www.lulu.com (print/PDF)or www.drivethrurpg.com (PDF) for “Bhakashal”
Alan Howcroft White Dwarf cover
Only 75p!
Only 75p!
November 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Alan Howcroft White Dwarf cover
Only 75p!
Only 75p!
Rolling dice in 10,9,8,7…
November 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Rolling dice in 10,9,8,7…
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers - JSTOR Daily
Nineteenth-century women turned music lessons into interactive entertainment, complete with spinning wheels and ivory counters.
daily.jstor.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...
One of the most difficult things to finesse at the table is balancing player knowledge with character knowledge in a fun and believable way.
Here's an old blog post addressing the issue:
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2020/12/emul...
Here's an old blog post addressing the issue:
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2020/12/emul...
Dweller of the Forbidden City
Emulating Character Knowledge in D&D: Abstraction Versus Interaction Image by Grandanvil on Deviantart - https://www.deviantart.com/grandan...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:59 AM
One of the most difficult things to finesse at the table is balancing player knowledge with character knowledge in a fun and believable way.
Here's an old blog post addressing the issue:
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2020/12/emul...
Here's an old blog post addressing the issue:
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2020/12/emul...
An old blog post on the value of random encounters, a staple of old school play.
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/unce...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/unce...
Dweller of the Forbidden City
Uncertainty, Improvisation and Inspiration - Random Encounters in D&D Image by Ed Beard Jr ( https://www.edbeardjr.com/) There are a ton ...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:51 PM
An old blog post on the value of random encounters, a staple of old school play.
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/unce...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/unce...
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
@beyondtheweird.bsky.social Here’s the most recent spread for the “Adventures into the Imperial Fringe” campaign Player’s Guide.
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social @kittensoft.bsky.social @ericklw.bsky.social
#CyberspaceTTRPG #Spacemaster2e
#DarkSpace
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social @kittensoft.bsky.social @ericklw.bsky.social
#CyberspaceTTRPG #Spacemaster2e
#DarkSpace
November 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
@beyondtheweird.bsky.social Here’s the most recent spread for the “Adventures into the Imperial Fringe” campaign Player’s Guide.
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social @kittensoft.bsky.social @ericklw.bsky.social
#CyberspaceTTRPG #Spacemaster2e
#DarkSpace
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social @kittensoft.bsky.social @ericklw.bsky.social
#CyberspaceTTRPG #Spacemaster2e
#DarkSpace
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
If you see this, post a monster 💀
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
If you see this, post a monster 💀
If you see this, post a monster 💀
November 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM
If you see this, post a monster 💀
One of my favorite AD&D 1e monsters, bad AC but great HP and damage so super fun in a fight.
Also a bit freaky looking so always good to terrify the players.
From one of my favorite modules, Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
Also a bit freaky looking so always good to terrify the players.
From one of my favorite modules, Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
November 24, 2025 at 11:25 PM
One of my favorite AD&D 1e monsters, bad AC but great HP and damage so super fun in a fight.
Also a bit freaky looking so always good to terrify the players.
From one of my favorite modules, Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
Also a bit freaky looking so always good to terrify the players.
From one of my favorite modules, Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
Oi! @kittensoft.bsky.social, @blackdragoncan.bsky.social and @herogm02.bsky.social looky at my latest order from Golden Apple Comics.
#ImageComics #DCComics #GIJoe #AbsoluteSuperman #AbsoluteWonderWoman #YoungBlood #GhostPepper #ColdSlither
#ImageComics #DCComics #GIJoe #AbsoluteSuperman #AbsoluteWonderWoman #YoungBlood #GhostPepper #ColdSlither
November 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Oi! @kittensoft.bsky.social, @blackdragoncan.bsky.social and @herogm02.bsky.social looky at my latest order from Golden Apple Comics.
#ImageComics #DCComics #GIJoe #AbsoluteSuperman #AbsoluteWonderWoman #YoungBlood #GhostPepper #ColdSlither
#ImageComics #DCComics #GIJoe #AbsoluteSuperman #AbsoluteWonderWoman #YoungBlood #GhostPepper #ColdSlither
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
Oi! @beyondtheweird.bsky.social my copy of the #Rolemaster Classic Crearures & Treasures book finally came in. Now all I am waiting for is my copy of High Adventure Role Playing 2e core book.
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social
@kittensoft.bsky.social
@ericklw.bsky.social
@dungeonnoir.bsky.social
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social
@kittensoft.bsky.social
@ericklw.bsky.social
@dungeonnoir.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Oi! @beyondtheweird.bsky.social my copy of the #Rolemaster Classic Crearures & Treasures book finally came in. Now all I am waiting for is my copy of High Adventure Role Playing 2e core book.
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social
@kittensoft.bsky.social
@ericklw.bsky.social
@dungeonnoir.bsky.social
@blackdragoncan.bsky.social
@kittensoft.bsky.social
@ericklw.bsky.social
@dungeonnoir.bsky.social
A little pulp inspiration for your gaming
Art by Sal Buscema and Ernie Chan
Art by Sal Buscema and Ernie Chan
November 23, 2025 at 9:32 PM
A little pulp inspiration for your gaming
Art by Sal Buscema and Ernie Chan
Art by Sal Buscema and Ernie Chan
An old blog post on "leaning in" to what the players find interesting. Referees often discourage activities by players as they feel they are "irrelevant" or they don't fit the ref's idea of "appropriate" play.
This is a mistake
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/lean...
This is a mistake
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/lean...
Dweller of the Forbidden City
Leaning In - Running D&D For the Players There are a few areas in D&D where I feel that I am an outlier, at least if social media discussi...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
An old blog post on "leaning in" to what the players find interesting. Referees often discourage activities by players as they feel they are "irrelevant" or they don't fit the ref's idea of "appropriate" play.
This is a mistake
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/lean...
This is a mistake
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/04/lean...
Esteban Maroto Red Sonja
November 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Esteban Maroto Red Sonja
Fancy a game of chess?
November 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Fancy a game of chess?
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
What's your DnD character? Whatever it is I can draw it for you.
September 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
What's your DnD character? Whatever it is I can draw it for you.
An old blog post on the role of description by the referee in D&D. The ref is the PCs “eyes” in the game, so good description is a must:
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/03/what...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/03/what...
Dweller of the Forbidden City
What You See Is What You Get - Description in D&D I was asked how I handle description in the game and I thought it would be easiest to blog...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:54 AM
An old blog post on the role of description by the referee in D&D. The ref is the PCs “eyes” in the game, so good description is a must:
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/03/what...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/03/what...
My favorite Far Side
I still quote this on the regular
I still quote this on the regular
November 22, 2025 at 2:12 AM
My favorite Far Side
I still quote this on the regular
I still quote this on the regular
If you look at old Dragon magazine letter columns and forums people have been debating the value of "crunch" for decades. That debate has for the most part been about "play styles", and people on either side of the divide treated complexity as a playstyle preference.
You like what you like
You like what you like
I don’t know if it’s just me taking final form as old guy but there does seem to be a trend to make things as easy as possible at the expense of everything else.
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
If you look at old Dragon magazine letter columns and forums people have been debating the value of "crunch" for decades. That debate has for the most part been about "play styles", and people on either side of the divide treated complexity as a playstyle preference.
You like what you like
You like what you like
An old blog post on a topic near and dear to me - complexity in TTRPGs.
IMO too many people disparage games for complexity, they are missing out
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/02/comp...
IMO too many people disparage games for complexity, they are missing out
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/02/comp...
Dweller of the Forbidden City
Complexity in Gaming and Game Design This morning I woke up to a discussion of how having spell levels and characters levels is confusing (a...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:24 AM
An old blog post on a topic near and dear to me - complexity in TTRPGs.
IMO too many people disparage games for complexity, they are missing out
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/02/comp...
IMO too many people disparage games for complexity, they are missing out
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/02/comp...
Still one of my favorite sci-fi movies
November 18, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Still one of my favorite sci-fi movies
An old blog post where I tackle the scourge of "balanced encounters".
TLDR - Nope!
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/06/buil...
TLDR - Nope!
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/06/buil...
Dweller of the Forbidden City
Building Bhakashal - "Balanced" Encounters and Scaling the Game One of the things I get the most pushback about when I discuss TTRPGS is the...
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:19 AM
An old blog post where I tackle the scourge of "balanced encounters".
TLDR - Nope!
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/06/buil...
TLDR - Nope!
dwelleroftheforbiddencity.blogspot.com/2021/06/buil...
Reposted by BlackDragonCan
One of Julin De Narvaez’s fine illustrations for the Folio Books edition of Susanna Clarke’s acclaimed fantasy novel “Piranesi”.
November 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
One of Julin De Narvaez’s fine illustrations for the Folio Books edition of Susanna Clarke’s acclaimed fantasy novel “Piranesi”.
Does your game have aerial mounts and rules for aerial pursuit and combat?
Bhakashal does!
Art by Chris Achilleos
Bhakashal does!
Art by Chris Achilleos
November 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Does your game have aerial mounts and rules for aerial pursuit and combat?
Bhakashal does!
Art by Chris Achilleos
Bhakashal does!
Art by Chris Achilleos
Feb 1980 was a groovy year for Mighty Marvel
A Sienkiewicz and Rubenstein picture for the Marvel Calendar. The individual daily entries are good fun to read too.
A Sienkiewicz and Rubenstein picture for the Marvel Calendar. The individual daily entries are good fun to read too.
November 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Feb 1980 was a groovy year for Mighty Marvel
A Sienkiewicz and Rubenstein picture for the Marvel Calendar. The individual daily entries are good fun to read too.
A Sienkiewicz and Rubenstein picture for the Marvel Calendar. The individual daily entries are good fun to read too.