DM David Hartlage
@dmdavid.com
D&D design, advice, rules, and inspiration from your friend DM David. He/Him dmdavid.com
In an real fight, everyone acts at the same time. Burning Wheel reflects simultaneous activity by resolving every action before applying all results at once. Results include wounded, killed, unbalanced, or knocked prone.
This strikes me as brilliant and perhaps too different from what I'm used to.
This strikes me as brilliant and perhaps too different from what I'm used to.
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
In an real fight, everyone acts at the same time. Burning Wheel reflects simultaneous activity by resolving every action before applying all results at once. Results include wounded, killed, unbalanced, or knocked prone.
This strikes me as brilliant and perhaps too different from what I'm used to.
This strikes me as brilliant and perhaps too different from what I'm used to.
What the D&D 2024 Alert feat feels like to me.
Black Bart goes for his gun, his gang raises weapons, and then the heroes take a time out to discuss who should have the quickest draw today.
Black Bart goes for his gun, his gang raises weapons, and then the heroes take a time out to discuss who should have the quickest draw today.
November 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
What the D&D 2024 Alert feat feels like to me.
Black Bart goes for his gun, his gang raises weapons, and then the heroes take a time out to discuss who should have the quickest draw today.
Black Bart goes for his gun, his gang raises weapons, and then the heroes take a time out to discuss who should have the quickest draw today.
On last night's d20Play Live stream, @d20play.bsky.social and I perused some randomly selected Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn. "What Wakes Below" stood out with the strong ideas and situations a DM needs to build 500 words into a full session. The wonderful map could be a campaign!
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
On last night's d20Play Live stream, @d20play.bsky.social and I perused some randomly selected Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn. "What Wakes Below" stood out with the strong ideas and situations a DM needs to build 500 words into a full session. The wonderful map could be a campaign!
Adventures in Faerûn takes a different slant on the Dalelands than the old sources I researched for my last campaign. But the new-to-me angle gives me exciting ideas.
November 4, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Adventures in Faerûn takes a different slant on the Dalelands than the old sources I researched for my last campaign. But the new-to-me angle gives me exciting ideas.
When I set my last D&D campaign in Daggerdale, I read lots of old Dalelands books. Still, Adventures in Faerûn lures me back to the Dales.
Myth Drannor as a megadungeon analog? Yes, please. The place’s disparate locales avoid the risk of monotony and the nearby Dales offer other, bigger stories.
Myth Drannor as a megadungeon analog? Yes, please. The place’s disparate locales avoid the risk of monotony and the nearby Dales offer other, bigger stories.
November 4, 2025 at 1:40 PM
When I set my last D&D campaign in Daggerdale, I read lots of old Dalelands books. Still, Adventures in Faerûn lures me back to the Dales.
Myth Drannor as a megadungeon analog? Yes, please. The place’s disparate locales avoid the risk of monotony and the nearby Dales offer other, bigger stories.
Myth Drannor as a megadungeon analog? Yes, please. The place’s disparate locales avoid the risk of monotony and the nearby Dales offer other, bigger stories.
Just about D&D 2024 game includes a PC with the Alert feat, which delays the start of each fight with a minute of talk about who wants to swap. I'm thinking about the play value of discussing who goes next. So much of that in Draw Steel and Daggerheart.
Do the benefits merit the game time?
Do the benefits merit the game time?
November 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Just about D&D 2024 game includes a PC with the Alert feat, which delays the start of each fight with a minute of talk about who wants to swap. I'm thinking about the play value of discussing who goes next. So much of that in Draw Steel and Daggerheart.
Do the benefits merit the game time?
Do the benefits merit the game time?
My Halloween night spectacle. #TheMusicalBox
November 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
My Halloween night spectacle. #TheMusicalBox
I've touted Affinity Publisher as outstanding alternative to InDesign, available at a modest, 1-time price. Today Affinity combined Publisher with their illustrator and photo editing apps and made it all free. The catch? Affinity owner Canva hopes you'll subscribe to an AI add-on.
October 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I've touted Affinity Publisher as outstanding alternative to InDesign, available at a modest, 1-time price. Today Affinity combined Publisher with their illustrator and photo editing apps and made it all free. The catch? Affinity owner Canva hopes you'll subscribe to an AI add-on.
I like how well Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn realizes the potential of D&D 2024’s weightier backgrounds and origin feats. The book’s setting-specific additions bring the flavor of the Realms.
October 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I like how well Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn realizes the potential of D&D 2024’s weightier backgrounds and origin feats. The book’s setting-specific additions bring the flavor of the Realms.
When a character does something noteworthy, give a short, vivid description of the event—or invite the player to describe it. Focus on describing the big spells, stunts, transformations, setbacks, and feats of valor.
October 26, 2025 at 2:32 PM
When a character does something noteworthy, give a short, vivid description of the event—or invite the player to describe it. Focus on describing the big spells, stunts, transformations, setbacks, and feats of valor.
Draw steel only allows respites in places where heroes are "unlikely to get stabbed in their sleep." The new Heroes of the Borderlands requires PCs to return to the keep for long rests. This sort of limit adds interesting choices, avoids 5-minute days, and I want it for D&D's core.
October 25, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Draw steel only allows respites in places where heroes are "unlikely to get stabbed in their sleep." The new Heroes of the Borderlands requires PCs to return to the keep for long rests. This sort of limit adds interesting choices, avoids 5-minute days, and I want it for D&D's core.
When 4E let D&D characters split their movement around an attack, combatants gained the ability to move into view, shoot, and then move back out of view. To counteract, the game needed readied actions. "When an enemy moves into view, I shoot."
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
When 4E let D&D characters split their movement around an attack, combatants gained the ability to move into view, shoot, and then move back out of view. To counteract, the game needed readied actions. "When an enemy moves into view, I shoot."
Erol Otus drew art for Dave Hargrave's Arduin Grimoire (1977). Later on TSR staff, Erol drew the regional map for White Plume Mountain with the caption, "Beyond to the lair of Dragotha, the undead dragon, where fabulous riches and hideous death await." An electrifying bit of flavor!"
October 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Erol Otus drew art for Dave Hargrave's Arduin Grimoire (1977). Later on TSR staff, Erol drew the regional map for White Plume Mountain with the caption, "Beyond to the lair of Dragotha, the undead dragon, where fabulous riches and hideous death await." An electrifying bit of flavor!"
I’m playing at a table and feeling the sympathetic restlessness of watching our DM and knowing she must be running way long.
Good news is she knows it and plans adjustments
Good news is she knows it and plans adjustments
October 19, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I’m playing at a table and feeling the sympathetic restlessness of watching our DM and knowing she must be running way long.
Good news is she knows it and plans adjustments
Good news is she knows it and plans adjustments
I had a blast playing @jamesintrocaso.bsky.social demo of any early version MCDM’s grittier dungeon crawl RPG, CROWS. It matches the strong mechanical foundation of Draw Steel with a lightweight, tense dungeon survival style.
But I’m sorry my spell misfire killed @shawnmerwin.bsky.social’s PC.
But I’m sorry my spell misfire killed @shawnmerwin.bsky.social’s PC.
October 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I had a blast playing @jamesintrocaso.bsky.social demo of any early version MCDM’s grittier dungeon crawl RPG, CROWS. It matches the strong mechanical foundation of Draw Steel with a lightweight, tense dungeon survival style.
But I’m sorry my spell misfire killed @shawnmerwin.bsky.social’s PC.
But I’m sorry my spell misfire killed @shawnmerwin.bsky.social’s PC.
Fun and informative! Played @alphastream.bsky.social‘s trap gauntlet interspersed with discussion of trap design. Key quote: “You just learned something important,” but not key for the reasons you might think.
October 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Fun and informative! Played @alphastream.bsky.social‘s trap gauntlet interspersed with discussion of trap design. Key quote: “You just learned something important,” but not key for the reasons you might think.
At GameHole con, playing Grim Hollow. The party learns of an NPC named Darrin. Hours of play later, we find him possibly under some enchantment. I get to organically ask, “Does Darrin seem bewitched?”
Do I credit (blame?) DM @joeraso.bsky.social or author @shawnmerwin.bsky.social for this delight?
Do I credit (blame?) DM @joeraso.bsky.social or author @shawnmerwin.bsky.social for this delight?
October 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
At GameHole con, playing Grim Hollow. The party learns of an NPC named Darrin. Hours of play later, we find him possibly under some enchantment. I get to organically ask, “Does Darrin seem bewitched?”
Do I credit (blame?) DM @joeraso.bsky.social or author @shawnmerwin.bsky.social for this delight?
Do I credit (blame?) DM @joeraso.bsky.social or author @shawnmerwin.bsky.social for this delight?
Some convention DMs can bring A+ production values. If you run something many times over a weekend, the work pays off.
From Origins in 2018. Recognize the adventure?
From Origins in 2018. Recognize the adventure?
October 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Some convention DMs can bring A+ production values. If you run something many times over a weekend, the work pays off.
From Origins in 2018. Recognize the adventure?
From Origins in 2018. Recognize the adventure?
Reposted by DM David Hartlage
I don’t think the neuroscience research supports this. Stress ends up being an inhibitor of creativity, not the other way around… think “the best ideas come in the shower.”
Thomas Edison used to nap in a chair holding a ball bearing. The clatter would rouse him and he claimed to have new solutions.
Thomas Edison used to nap in a chair holding a ball bearing. The clatter would rouse him and he claimed to have new solutions.
October 13, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I don’t think the neuroscience research supports this. Stress ends up being an inhibitor of creativity, not the other way around… think “the best ideas come in the shower.”
Thomas Edison used to nap in a chair holding a ball bearing. The clatter would rouse him and he claimed to have new solutions.
Thomas Edison used to nap in a chair holding a ball bearing. The clatter would rouse him and he claimed to have new solutions.
20-something years ago, I read Charlie Chaplin’s autobiography. The thing I still think about is how he embraced pressure as a source of ideas. “I had to have an idea. I was in an emergency. That is when ideas come—when one is in desperate need.”
October 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
20-something years ago, I read Charlie Chaplin’s autobiography. The thing I still think about is how he embraced pressure as a source of ideas. “I had to have an idea. I was in an emergency. That is when ideas come—when one is in desperate need.”
Here's my Gen Con 2004 Schedule shown in Palm Desktop. I just had to restore a 20-year-old backup using old software CDs, and then install Palm on a virtual machine. Yikes! I'm deep in this rabbit hole.
October 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Here's my Gen Con 2004 Schedule shown in Palm Desktop. I just had to restore a 20-year-old backup using old software CDs, and then install Palm on a virtual machine. Yikes! I'm deep in this rabbit hole.
When I saw this beholder figurine (WITH GLOWING EYE!) for half price, I bought it despite not needing any more tchotchkes.
The included Guide for Training Your Beholder reminded me of How to Care for Your Monster, a book I loved as a youngster.
The included Guide for Training Your Beholder reminded me of How to Care for Your Monster, a book I loved as a youngster.
October 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
When I saw this beholder figurine (WITH GLOWING EYE!) for half price, I bought it despite not needing any more tchotchkes.
The included Guide for Training Your Beholder reminded me of How to Care for Your Monster, a book I loved as a youngster.
The included Guide for Training Your Beholder reminded me of How to Care for Your Monster, a book I loved as a youngster.
Fantastic post from Patchwork Paladin on offering choices in every scene while avoiding false choices, handcuffing, and calculations posing a choices. patchworkpaladin.com/2025/10/04/t...
The Goblin Ambush
The very same goblin ambush can be infuriating, boring, or a highlight. This post uses the goblin ambush to show how you can avoid bad choices and create good choices that maximise player agency.
patchworkpaladin.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Fantastic post from Patchwork Paladin on offering choices in every scene while avoiding false choices, handcuffing, and calculations posing a choices. patchworkpaladin.com/2025/10/04/t...
A 2021 photo of a battle in an iron fortress in the Abyss versus a sibriex and some iron golems. From my first run through of my tier 4 adventure Battle Walker From the Abyss.
October 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
A 2021 photo of a battle in an iron fortress in the Abyss versus a sibriex and some iron golems. From my first run through of my tier 4 adventure Battle Walker From the Abyss.