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 … Continue reading Free Map – Road to an Underdark Library
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 … Continue reading Laidback DM: OP Characters and the Players Who Love Them
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 … Continue reading Free Map: Not-so-General Store
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 … Continue reading Laidback DM – Theater vs. Grid
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 … Continue reading Laidback DM: Pawns vs. Miniatures
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 … Continue reading Laidback DM: Products for Sale!
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 … Continue reading SHOTGLASS ADVENTURES: GRAVIS TOWN BLUES now in print!
Nope – this isn’t a post about hosting huge drunkfests the whole street will remember. But nerdfests? Bring it on… There’s a reason most modules are written for four players. Over time this was considered the average number of players … Continue reading Laidback DM – Running Big Parties
Hi all, My latest project – Maps Your Party Will Die For – is now available from DrivethruRPG at the following link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/13989/Laidback-DM?term=laidback Game On! Steve 🙂 Continue reading ‘Maps Your Party Will Die For’ available now in Print and PDF
I’m willing to bet money you have a group that has at least one quiet, introspective player, who tends to not speak up much (I’ll refrain from calling them an introvert as sometimes introverts can be outgoing, too). I’m also … Continue reading Laidback DM – The Quiet Player
So, I’m taking a break from DMing to hone my ‘player’ chops. Part of the reason was my increasing work and study loads and part of it was burn out. I just needed a break from all the work involved … Continue reading Laidback DM: Anatomy of a (not quite) break up
I know what you’re going to say—in D&D it’s so much easier not to have to worry about weapons getting damaged. But what happens when they do? And how do you have a simple (or laidback, as I prefer to … Continue reading Laidback DM: Weapon and Armor Durability
Hi all I was one of the winners of the 2019 One Page Dungeon competition at https://www.dungeoncontest.com. I used one of my old adventures from Shotglass Adventures volume 1, which is available in print and PDF from DrivethruRPG (see the … Continue reading Laidback DM – One-Page Dungeon Competition 2019 Winner
All too often, treasure seems to be the major incentive for PCs to complete missions and quests in fantasy role playing games. So what about something else just as beneficial? Here’s some ideas for things that are just as useful … Continue reading Laidback DM: Treasure Alternatives
Do you use the encumbrance rules as written in 5e? I don’t. I find them…cumbersome, if you’ll excuse the pun. Of all the rules brought across from the various old editions, counting weight in pounds and applying it to a … Continue reading Laidback DM: Easier Encumbrance
Laidback DM: SteveStillStanding.com 