DM David Hartlage
@dmdavid.com
D&D design, advice, rules, and inspiration from your friend DM David. He/Him dmdavid.com
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!
My Halloween night spectacle. #TheMusicalBox
November 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
My Halloween night spectacle. #TheMusicalBox
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!"
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?
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.
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.
I’m easily amused by Halloween decorations that seem more D&D than spooky like this ogre I met in the neighborhood.
October 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I’m easily amused by Halloween decorations that seem more D&D than spooky like this ogre I met in the neighborhood.
At $100, I passed on the Deck of Many Things, but on sale at $50 I succumbed. I’m pleasantly surprised by this chimera. A deck, more cards, plus help using it for divination as in Ravenloft, & for random adventure ideas. Plus 192 pages of loosely related PC options, locations, NPCs, magic & more.
September 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
At $100, I passed on the Deck of Many Things, but on sale at $50 I succumbed. I’m pleasantly surprised by this chimera. A deck, more cards, plus help using it for divination as in Ravenloft, & for random adventure ideas. Plus 192 pages of loosely related PC options, locations, NPCs, magic & more.
Years ago I posted about D&D adventures that included poster battle maps. I never uncovered a series of boxed adventures that followed the 1991 black box basic edition of D&D. Adventures like The Dragons Den (1992) included maps, counters, and more. They even got a Thunder Rift setting box.
September 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Years ago I posted about D&D adventures that included poster battle maps. I never uncovered a series of boxed adventures that followed the 1991 black box basic edition of D&D. Adventures like The Dragons Den (1992) included maps, counters, and more. They even got a Thunder Rift setting box.
After my 1st-level party met a gelatinous cube, I'm thinking about it's transparency. Originally surprise on 1-3. As a DM, I've been inconsistent in running that aspect.
We spotted the cube once and ran away (smart), and later walked right into it (1 dead PC and nearly 2 more).
We spotted the cube once and ran away (smart), and later walked right into it (1 dead PC and nearly 2 more).
September 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
After my 1st-level party met a gelatinous cube, I'm thinking about it's transparency. Originally surprise on 1-3. As a DM, I've been inconsistent in running that aspect.
We spotted the cube once and ran away (smart), and later walked right into it (1 dead PC and nearly 2 more).
We spotted the cube once and ran away (smart), and later walked right into it (1 dead PC and nearly 2 more).
In 1983, D&D had pages of tables to determine to-hit numbers. In the D&D-inspired Palladium RPG (1983) the to-hit number on a d20 for every attack was 5! Always 5.
That quirk fascinates me.
That quirk fascinates me.
September 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
In 1983, D&D had pages of tables to determine to-hit numbers. In the D&D-inspired Palladium RPG (1983) the to-hit number on a d20 for every attack was 5! Always 5.
That quirk fascinates me.
That quirk fascinates me.
Look what arrived in the post. Wee little RPG books!
August 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Look what arrived in the post. Wee little RPG books!
Given the niche subject, I’m astonished that The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games got made. I know the story, but I’m still loving the retelling.
No superpowers or slugfests so far.
Will Gary battle Dave over AD&D royalties in the sky above Lake Geneva?
No superpowers or slugfests so far.
Will Gary battle Dave over AD&D royalties in the sky above Lake Geneva?
August 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Given the niche subject, I’m astonished that The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games got made. I know the story, but I’m still loving the retelling.
No superpowers or slugfests so far.
Will Gary battle Dave over AD&D royalties in the sky above Lake Geneva?
No superpowers or slugfests so far.
Will Gary battle Dave over AD&D royalties in the sky above Lake Geneva?
I love reading about the history of roleplaying games, so I relished Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in Ground.
Experience Points is a slim pamphlet of outtakes cut for space
At $15 it’s a bad value compared to the hardcover, but a good value considering I’ve spent more on a drink I enjoyed much less
Experience Points is a slim pamphlet of outtakes cut for space
At $15 it’s a bad value compared to the hardcover, but a good value considering I’ve spent more on a drink I enjoyed much less
July 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I love reading about the history of roleplaying games, so I relished Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in Ground.
Experience Points is a slim pamphlet of outtakes cut for space
At $15 it’s a bad value compared to the hardcover, but a good value considering I’ve spent more on a drink I enjoyed much less
Experience Points is a slim pamphlet of outtakes cut for space
At $15 it’s a bad value compared to the hardcover, but a good value considering I’ve spent more on a drink I enjoyed much less
I bought this 175-page, full-color Ultimate Random Encounters Book for under $12 and I’m charmed by it.
Most of the encounters are very evocative adventure hooks. Some are more goofy than anything I would use, but they all fire my imagination.
Most of the encounters are very evocative adventure hooks. Some are more goofy than anything I would use, but they all fire my imagination.
July 26, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I bought this 175-page, full-color Ultimate Random Encounters Book for under $12 and I’m charmed by it.
Most of the encounters are very evocative adventure hooks. Some are more goofy than anything I would use, but they all fire my imagination.
Most of the encounters are very evocative adventure hooks. Some are more goofy than anything I would use, but they all fire my imagination.
If Pixar made a Forgotten Realms movie, it would look like these covers.
(I’m unbothered by that)
(I’m unbothered by that)
July 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
If Pixar made a Forgotten Realms movie, it would look like these covers.
(I’m unbothered by that)
(I’m unbothered by that)
I’m fascinated by the death mechanics in D&D-adjacent games like Draw Steel and Dggerheart that let PCs die in glorious sacrifice.
Perhaps my favorite appears in the unreleased Delve RPG by @delvesrm.bsky.social. I still want to see that game.
Perhaps my favorite appears in the unreleased Delve RPG by @delvesrm.bsky.social. I still want to see that game.
July 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I’m fascinated by the death mechanics in D&D-adjacent games like Draw Steel and Dggerheart that let PCs die in glorious sacrifice.
Perhaps my favorite appears in the unreleased Delve RPG by @delvesrm.bsky.social. I still want to see that game.
Perhaps my favorite appears in the unreleased Delve RPG by @delvesrm.bsky.social. I still want to see that game.
Lately I’ve been full nerd reading The Meints Index to Glorantha and This is Free Trader Beowulf - A System History of Traveller.
The vast history of 3rd party stuff for Runequest & Traveller astonished me. Despite being an early fan, I had zero idea any of it existed.
The vast history of 3rd party stuff for Runequest & Traveller astonished me. Despite being an early fan, I had zero idea any of it existed.
July 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Lately I’ve been full nerd reading The Meints Index to Glorantha and This is Free Trader Beowulf - A System History of Traveller.
The vast history of 3rd party stuff for Runequest & Traveller astonished me. Despite being an early fan, I had zero idea any of it existed.
The vast history of 3rd party stuff for Runequest & Traveller astonished me. Despite being an early fan, I had zero idea any of it existed.
Spotted in the cruise ship’s game room. Anyone fancy a game?
May 22, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Spotted in the cruise ship’s game room. Anyone fancy a game?
How does the party want to approach this lair?
(actually Ristorante Torre Normanna in Italy)
(actually Ristorante Torre Normanna in Italy)
May 10, 2025 at 4:23 AM
How does the party want to approach this lair?
(actually Ristorante Torre Normanna in Italy)
(actually Ristorante Torre Normanna in Italy)