DM David Hartlage
@dmdavid.com
D&D design, advice, rules, and inspiration from your friend DM David. He/Him dmdavid.com
I mean in the same span of a round. And you’re right, momentary differences exist between results. I’m sort of thinking out loud here.
IIRC in original AD&D if two combatants acted in the same segment, the results were simultaneous
IIRC in original AD&D if two combatants acted in the same segment, the results were simultaneous
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I mean in the same span of a round. And you’re right, momentary differences exist between results. I’m sort of thinking out loud here.
IIRC in original AD&D if two combatants acted in the same segment, the results were simultaneous
IIRC in original AD&D if two combatants acted in the same segment, the results were simultaneous
However, one bit of "What Wakes Below" asks a lot from the DM. An Adult Deep Dragon "chases [the PCs] into a tunnel leading to the Underdark." Has the author ever played D&D? Players don't run; they fight. (And level 9 characters crush a CR 11 dragon.) DMs will need a plan B.
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
However, one bit of "What Wakes Below" asks a lot from the DM. An Adult Deep Dragon "chases [the PCs] into a tunnel leading to the Underdark." Has the author ever played D&D? Players don't run; they fight. (And level 9 characters crush a CR 11 dragon.) DMs will need a plan B.
Have you ever overheard people talking about how well you did something? It’s the best feeling. Hearing the GM as play-by-play announcer describe your character’s exploits captures some of the same joy.
From this post: dmdavid.com/tag/narratin...
From this post: dmdavid.com/tag/narratin...
Narrating Combat, Actions, and Outcomes
In roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, not all of a dungeon master’s descriptions set a scene. DMs spend even more words describing the results of actions, often during combat. That narr…
dmdavid.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Have you ever overheard people talking about how well you did something? It’s the best feeling. Hearing the GM as play-by-play announcer describe your character’s exploits captures some of the same joy.
From this post: dmdavid.com/tag/narratin...
From this post: dmdavid.com/tag/narratin...
I thought about this while playtesting Crows, a rules-light game with the weight of a ready action.
Shadowdark allows split moves, but lacks a ready action. If needed, should GMs just improvise one at the table?
Shadowdark allows split moves, but lacks a ready action. If needed, should GMs just improvise one at the table?
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I thought about this while playtesting Crows, a rules-light game with the weight of a ready action.
Shadowdark allows split moves, but lacks a ready action. If needed, should GMs just improvise one at the table?
Shadowdark allows split moves, but lacks a ready action. If needed, should GMs just improvise one at the table?
You can read more about Arduin in my look back. dmdavid.com/tag/the-ardu...
The Arduin Grimoire: The “Coolest RPG Book Ever,” also the Book Gygax Mocked As Costing Readers 1 Int and 2 Wis
When creators dream up imaginary worlds, they can go in two directions. They can build their world from a curated set of ideas, and then fit these pieces together into a logical and consistent mann…
dmdavid.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
You can read more about Arduin in my look back. dmdavid.com/tag/the-ardu...
D&D lacked undead dragons in 1980. Erol added the caption as a nod to Arduin. The wraithe dragon appeared on wandering monster tables in the Arduin Grimoire (1977) and gets stats in volume 3 (1978).
In 1999, Bruce Cordell wrote the 2nd-edition adventure Dragotha's Lair for the RPGA.
In 1999, Bruce Cordell wrote the 2nd-edition adventure Dragotha's Lair for the RPGA.
Dragotha's Lair
Publisher Blurb:
Revisit the familiar territory that was first introduced in S2: White Plume Mountain by Lawrence Schick and later revisited by Bruce R. Cordell in Return to White Plume Mountain with...
rpggeek.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
D&D lacked undead dragons in 1980. Erol added the caption as a nod to Arduin. The wraithe dragon appeared on wandering monster tables in the Arduin Grimoire (1977) and gets stats in volume 3 (1978).
In 1999, Bruce Cordell wrote the 2nd-edition adventure Dragotha's Lair for the RPGA.
In 1999, Bruce Cordell wrote the 2nd-edition adventure Dragotha's Lair for the RPGA.
Shawn’s soldier leapt down a shaft to attack a TPK-sized spider and instead of the hero’s death that seemed inevitable, he rolled two crits in a row earning two extra attacks.
He soloed the thing.
And then…you know the rest
He soloed the thing.
And then…you know the rest
October 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Shawn’s soldier leapt down a shaft to attack a TPK-sized spider and instead of the hero’s death that seemed inevitable, he rolled two crits in a row earning two extra attacks.
He soloed the thing.
And then…you know the rest
He soloed the thing.
And then…you know the rest
Somehow you were thinking 10 moves ahead my friend
October 17, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Somehow you were thinking 10 moves ahead my friend