I don’t have a lot of free time nowadays, but I ordered this game from DrivethruRPG and thought I’d (finally) post a review of it. Dragon Warriors is an English TTRPG first published as a series of paperbacks back in the mid-80s. Serpent King Games has reprinted the 2006 revival of that original game, whichContinue reading “Laidback DM: Dragon Warriors Review”
Category Archives: The Laid Back Dungeon Master
Free Map – Dwarven Mine Camp!
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This Week: Dwarven Mine Camp You know how it is, the party sees that interesting cave entrance just off to the side ofContinue reading “Free Map – Dwarven Mine Camp!”
Shotglass Adventures: Mined Games Now in Print!
Shotglass Adventures – Kal-Zar’s Bane 2: Mined Games is now available in print, PDF and as a Digital Maps Package from DrivethruRPG. Gravis Town is locked down as the Kal-Zar’s Bane virus runs rampant. A journal found in a lost shipyard provides the location of the long-hidden library of Kal-Zar Ro. The party must travelContinue reading “Shotglass Adventures: Mined Games Now in Print!”
Shotglass Rounds – PDF Adventures for D&D 5e now available on DrivethruRPG!
Shotglass Rounds are flexible PDF-only One-Shots for D&D 5e for the DM who doesn’t want to sit up hours doing prep for their next game session! Each adventure is presented in the proven Shotglass Adventures format, designed for a 3-5 hour session. Each PDF includes a two-page spread of the adventure with DM’s map andContinue reading “Shotglass Rounds – PDF Adventures for D&D 5e now available on DrivethruRPG!”
Murder on the Dance Floor – Dealing with Dissent in TRPG Games
What do you do when players cause dissent in your game? (And believe me, even if it hasn’t happened in one of your games yet, it WILL happen.) Here’s a few suggestions: Establishing Ground Rules Make sure you set ground rules about behaviour in your session zero, such as being respectful of others, allowing everyoneContinue reading “Murder on the Dance Floor – Dealing with Dissent in TRPG Games”
Brutal Damage in DnD 5e
Some people (oldies and grognards, like me) remember when D&D was a lot more lethal for player characters (PCs). 5e changed all that. Now players have a suitably comfortable time with only a few chances of actually dying in a campaign (players don’t really like their characters dying unless its part of a game-changing eventContinue reading “Brutal Damage in DnD 5e”
Free Map – Desert Outpost Ruin
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. Select you preferred version below: with a grid for home games, or grid-less for Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds! Desert Outpost Ruin This desertContinue reading “Free Map – Desert Outpost Ruin”
Free Map – Wasteland Ruins
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This map is grid-less, perfect for Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds! Wasteland Ruins I created this map for the final showdown between Demogorgon andContinue reading “Free Map – Wasteland Ruins”
Curse of Strahd: Weeks 21-24
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull,Continue reading “Curse of Strahd: Weeks 21-24”
Free Map: Wizard’s Manor
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This map is grid-less, perfect for Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds! Wizard’s Manor This single-story manor was built on a clifftop overlooking the seaContinue reading “Free Map: Wizard’s Manor”
Free Map: Lava Rift!
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for D&D adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This week: Lava Rift! Gotta love lava! I made this map for an Out of the Abyss campaign I finished not long ago, but youContinue reading “Free Map: Lava Rift!”
Review – Pathfinder 2e Gamemastery Guide & Advanced Players Guide
I’ve really fallen behind in reviews of the excellent Pathfinder 2e (P2e) products I’ve been buying. Here’s two brief reviews to make up for it: Anyone who has bought the P2e Core Rulebook will know it’s a hefty tome, both in size and price. I know Paizo (the company that makes the game) was tryingContinue reading “Review – Pathfinder 2e Gamemastery Guide & Advanced Players Guide”
Free Map – Old Becomes New…
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This map is grid-less, perfect for Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds! This week: New Thundertree My regular Phandelver’s Pact campaign saw the destruction ofContinue reading “Free Map – Old Becomes New…”
Free Old School Map!
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This week: Old School Walled Town! I drew this map many years ago and I think it still holds up. This frontier walledContinue reading “Free Old School Map!”
Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 20
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull,Continue reading “Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 20”
Laidback DM: Free Map – Road to an Underdark Library
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This week: The Only Way is Up The only way is up in this week’s gridless map (ideal for virtual tabletops like Roll20Continue reading “Laidback DM: Free Map – Road to an Underdark Library”
Laidback DM: OP Characters and the Players Who Love Them
Every DM knows one. Some know many. What am I talking about? Players who spend their lives working out the best options to make themselves the most powerful (or “optimised”) characters in the game. But is there anything wrong with that? Here’s some pros and cons you might want to think about, followed by someContinue reading “Laidback DM: OP Characters and the Players Who Love Them”
Laidback DM: Free Map!
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This one is grid-less, ideal for virtual tabletop platforms like Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds. This week: Not-so-General Store Ever needed a map forContinue reading “Laidback DM: Free Map!”
Laidback DM: Free Map – Labyrinth Tunnels
Time for a free map! I love drawing maps for Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I have far too many, though, so I like to give away my hand-drawn maps when I can. This week: Labyrinth Tunnels I drew this map for a recent Out of the Abyss campaign I ran. It’s a section of theContinue reading “Laidback DM: Free Map – Labyrinth Tunnels”
Laidback DM – Theater vs. Grid
As a DM I like to run combat different ways. Sometimes it’s with miniatures and pawns on a 1-inch square grid. Sometimes it’s all in the imagination, what we like to call ‘Theater of the Mind’ (TOTM). Here’s the pros and cons for both: Grid/Battle Mat Pros: * Precise – allows players and DM toContinue reading “Laidback DM – Theater vs. Grid”
Laidback DM: Pawns vs. Miniatures
When I run face-to-face (IRL for all you young whippersnappers) role playing games, I like using a grid and pawns for combat (that’s not to say I don’t like using Theater of the Mind – I do, I just prefer using grids for larger scale battles). In some games I’ve used combinations of pawns andContinue reading “Laidback DM: Pawns vs. Miniatures”
Laidback DM: Products for Sale!
Hi all! Far be it for me to spruik for a living, but hey – it’s how I make a living now. So, here are some of my role playing game products available on DrivethruRPG in print/PDF/digital formats. You can buy any or all of these fine products by visiting this nifty little link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/13989/Laidback-DM?term=laidback Game on! Steve 🙂Continue reading “Laidback DM: Products for Sale!”
Laidback DM – Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 19
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull,Continue reading “Laidback DM – Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 19”
SHOTGLASS ADVENTURES: GRAVIS TOWN BLUES now in print!
Published under the OGL and compatible with 5e and OSR fantasy role playing games, SHOTGLASS ADVENTURES – Kal-Zar’s Bane: GRAVIS TOWN BLUES is a 68-page book with adventures for characters of 1st-4th level, that can be played as One-Shots or as the first module in a four-part campaign. So, what’s in SHOTGLASS ADVENTURES – Kal-Zar’s Bane: GRAVIS TOWN BLUES? · 6 adventures, complete with full color maps! Varied adventuresContinue reading “SHOTGLASS ADVENTURES: GRAVIS TOWN BLUES now in print!”
RPG. A poem.
My game is never done Or lost or won Even when the final die is cast And the last Player upon this infinite stage Writes their page Another memorable tale It’s safe to say That lives on in mind and soul The final The ultimate And ever-lasting Goal. For more Poetry, click here. For moreContinue reading “RPG. A poem.”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 18
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull,Continue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 18”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 15
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull,Continue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 15”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 14
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull, some mayContinue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 14”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 13
Hi all, Over the last few weeks I’ve been posting some warts-and-all email summaries of the Curse of Strahd campaign I ran in 2017. This is the first campaign I started sending summaries to players by email after each game (I was a bit lazy prior to that). Some of the summaries may be dull,Continue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Week 13”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Weeks 6-12
Hi all, Over the next few weeks (months, years, who knows) I’ll be posting some warts-and-all summaries of several campaigns I’ve run in the past. This is one from 2017 – The Curse of Strahd. Some of it will be dull, some of it may be amusing; some of it is written in present tense,Continue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 – Weeks 6-12”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 (Weeks 4-5)
Hi all, Over the next few weeks (months, years, who knows) I’ll be posting some warts-and-all summaries of several campaigns I’ve run in the past. This is one from 2017 – The Curse of Strahd. Some of it will be dull, some of it may be amusing; some of it is written in present tense,Continue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 (Weeks 4-5)”
DUNGEONS YOUR PARTY WILL DIE FOR available in print!
Hi all, DUNGEONS YOUR PARTY WILL DIE FOR is now available in print through DrivethruRPG! Compatible with 5e and OSR fantasy role playing games, DUNGEONS YOUR PARTY WILL DIE FOR is a 36 page book packed full of fantastic content at a low price. Inside you’ll find: · 10 ‘adventure-on-a-page’ one-shot adventures of all varieties,Continue reading “DUNGEONS YOUR PARTY WILL DIE FOR available in print!”
Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 (Week 1-2)
Hi all, Over the next few weeks (months, years, who knows) I’ll be posting some warts-and-all summaries of several campaigns I’ve run in the past. This is one from back in 2017 – The Curse of Strahd. Some of it will be dull, some of it may be amusing; some of it is written inContinue reading “Laidback DM: Curse of Strahd 2017 (Week 1-2)”
Laidback DM: Virtual Tabletops and The FTF gamer.
So, you’ve never played D&D or your preferred role playing game online before? Now’s the perfect time to do it. I was a virtual tabletop virgin. All my games were face-to-face (FTF) and the idea of playing a game specifically designed for FTF social contact on a computer didn’t appeal to me at all. IContinue reading “Laidback DM: Virtual Tabletops and The FTF gamer.”
Laidback DM: Raw Dice and Partying on the Edge
I know you’ve been there, no doubt many times: a planned encounter, meticulously balanced to allow the party a measure of challenge, but one that you know they should get through reasonably well. And then: amazingly bad dice rolls; the astoundingly poor use of abilities; the splitting of the party at the worst of times;Continue reading “Laidback DM: Raw Dice and Partying on the Edge”
Laidback DM: Pathfinder 2e Reviews – Bestiary Battle Cards
The Pathfinder 2e Bestiary Battle Cards are a heavy box of 450 large-sized monster cards for GMs who run live games. Every monster in the P2e Bestiary book is included, the more powerful ones sometimes spanning two cards. Each card is 4 x 6 inches and has great artwork from the Bestiary. As a DMContinue reading “Laidback DM: Pathfinder 2e Reviews – Bestiary Battle Cards”
Laidback DM: Pathfinder 2e Reviews – The Show Must Go On
Right on the heels of the Age of Ashes Adventure Path comes Extinction Curse. I’m very impressed at the way Paizo churns out adventures for their products every month, especially when they are all of such excellent quality. Each one is packed full of new monsters, spells, feats, magic items and lore, and the packagingContinue reading “Laidback DM: Pathfinder 2e Reviews – The Show Must Go On”
Laidback DM: P2e Review – Bestiary Pawn Box
I love combat on a grid, but minis are too costly and take up too much space. I prefer to use pawns for this reason and Paizo makes some of the best. I recently bought the new Pathfinder 2e Bestiary Pawn Box, which is absolutely huge. It contains 378 pawns featuring every single monster fromContinue reading “Laidback DM: P2e Review – Bestiary Pawn Box”
Laidback DM: P2e Review – Broken Promises
Time I got back to reviewing some Pathfinder stuff! I’ve been buying literally everything, so here’s my opinion. All good things come to an end, and this final adventure in the Age of Ashes Adventure Path pulls no punches. It’s for 18th-20th level characters and features some pretty hard challenges. An assault on the PC’sContinue reading “Laidback DM: P2e Review – Broken Promises”
Laidback DM: Taking the Roll20 Plunge…
I’ve always played tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs) face-to-face, ever since I was knee-high to a tadpole, a loooooooooong time ago. Yes, I have a background in information technology; yes, at one point I could program…stuff; yes, everyone always came to me at work to fix their computer issues (“Have you tried switching it onContinue reading “Laidback DM: Taking the Roll20 Plunge…”
