The fifth release in the Forgotten Realms line of novels, Azure Bonds, is the first book in the line that I consider an unqualified success and, indeed, one of the best fantasy novels that’s been written. It had been about 25 years since I last read it, and in that time I forgot how good it was. Rereading the book was an absolute pleasure. This … Continue reading Book Review: Azure Bonds
Brian McKenzie’s The Horror Under the Mountain is an ambitious product. Presented as a 42-page pdf, it presents an adventure for characters of levels 14-16 that takes them from the remote human settlement of Ice Reach to the depths of the mind-flayer city of Bal Crek in an attempt to stop the mind flayers from unleashing the tarrasque on the surface world. It’s a great … Continue reading 5E Adventure Review: The Horror Under the Mountain
One of the things I occasionally get asked is “where can I play D&D?” The answer to that is “anywhere you can find players!” But, of course, finding players can be the tricky bit. To aid the answering of this question, I’ve started up a list of clubs and stores that run D&D events. I’m also trying to tag them (as I get more information) … Continue reading A list of places to play D&D in the Asia-Pacific region
Tony Petrecca’s Journey Through the Center of the Underdark is a collection of seven encounters designed to make Underdark travelling more exciting. They would be particularly valuable to any DM running Out of the Abyss, and several are written with that adventure in mind, but all could be easily adapted for use in other adventures set in the underworld. After all, it certainly has a … Continue reading 5E Adventure Review: Journey Through the Center of the Underdark
Were you interested in using a pregenerated character for this season of D&D? I’m amusing myself by creating an entire party of them! Here’s the second on my list… a Human Fighter. This one works best if you have the Player’s Handbook and the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. Human Fighter Let me know if you see any problems with it and I’ll fix them! (Updated to put … Continue reading A Human Fighter for Curse of Strahd
In which Merric demonstrates why he’s a Killer DM, and the players learn about horror. Continue reading Death House, session 3: Report and DM Notes
Ravenloft Archetypes: Nightmares of Barovia is a supplement by Jeremy Forbing for players and Dungeon Masters who have their games set in the Ravenloft campaign setting. It contains new archetypes for several character classes, a selection of new races and spells, and a number of new monsters that the DM can employ against the characters. It’s hard writing good rules material. It’s even harder writing … Continue reading 5E Supplement Review – Ravenloft Archetypes: Nightmares of Barovia
The Ghost and the Peddler is a short adventure by Benoit de Bernady for three to five characters of levels 3 to 5. It’s a charming adventure, which sees the players travel with a young apothecary through orc-infested lands, whilst a mysterious “ghost” plagues the travellers. I very much appreciate adventures that have good characters, and The Ghost and the Peddler has several of them. … Continue reading 5E Adventure Review: The Ghost and the Peddler
The Mystery at Dreary’s Well is a nicely-constructed adventure for 1st and 2nd level characters set in the Forgotten Realms. The player characters are sent to the small hamlet of Dreary’s Well in order to discover what has happened to a diamond that was stolen from a courier passing through the place a few nights ago. However, with a few additional opportunities for adventure (and … Continue reading 5E Adventure Review: The Mystery at Dreary’s Well
A plan by a trading coster to blockade the dwarven strongholds with an orc army so they can make a killing on all the iron ore they’ve stockpiled seem to be a story inspired by The Phantom Menace. I’m not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. It’s a lunatic plan, but our history is filled with lunatic plans to make money or gain power. Continue reading 5E Adventure Review: The Horns of War
