- Magic Items for Troika
Troika doesn’t feature magic items the way other games do. It’s not too hot on material concerns as a whole; - Shadowdark Monster: the Unmourned
Need a new Shadowdark Monster? Want PC death to be more of a setback? Like to send characters off with - Here’s to the Blackmarsh Rangers!
If you want actionable TTRPG content, check out Tuesday’s post. Today is a campaign recap — for the love of - Five Swords for Shadowdark
We like Shadowdark. Playing it. Writing for it. Talking about it. Magic Swords, I’m less keen on. That’s partially a - Mad Moors: Now with weird plants!
Welcome to the Mad Moors! We’ve manuals full of fantasy fauna; where’s all the flora? Sure, there’s your Shambling Mounds, - Trolls of the Ermine Marches
What is a Troll? A type of giant? A rock-skinned mountain dweller? A bag of regenerating HP with pyrophobia? The Ermine - Torches
Yo! No big long post today (Tuesday’s is a hefty one). Instead, I wanted to share a little piece of - Let Them Eat Cake: Why PCs should get Rich
You know what Deng Xiaoping said: “It is glorious to be rich.” So why do we seem so invested in - Tales from the Bar Hak: Weird Elves
I like Elves. I hate them, too, but then, I’m a complicated guy. Inhuman, immortal weirdoes are right up my - D66 Provisions: a Table for Troika!
We do a little eating. In real life, in an effort to avoid starvation. In Troika (and some other TTRPGS), - A First Level Cleric VS History
How common are clerics? I suppose somewhere out there is a game of 5e, where every NPC has class levels, - Farce – a Houserule for Troika Initiative Chaos
While the rest of the TTRPG world debates side versus individual initiative, Troika’s system revels in a more unpredictable chaos.Delve Deeper…Farce – a Houserule for Troika Initiative Chaos
- Feuding with Feudalism
Let’s talk about Feudalism. “Feudalism never actually existed.” – You, probably Fair point. Making generalisations (as I’m about to) wins - Wrestlers and Rikishi
Three things are true: This makes me want to write up a Constitution-forward, space-control/tank class: a Wrestler! I’ve often seen - Mothership 1e : Honest Review
It finally came, the Mothership 1e Deluxe Set I have been waiting for since (checks Kickstarter) December 2021. With an - Pariah Play Report #1
I’ve been excited about Pariah for months. Gabriel gifted me a copy of the Psychedelic Proto-Neolithic Animist OSR RPG a - Using Oozes Effectively – A 5e Encounter Design
Recently, I had the opportunity to explore using Oozes in a 5e “combat” encounter. My party was heading to aDelve Deeper…Using Oozes Effectively – A 5e Encounter Design
- Free TTRPG Talk: the Magic of January ‘24
Freegan TTRPG degenerates like myself have eaten well this month. Luke Gearing, of Acid Death Fantasy and Big Squirm fame, - What Happened In Troika Since We’ve Been Gone? d66 Odd Events!
Ah, Troika: City of Adventure! Of course, not every adventure takes place in the city. Occasionally your players must leaveDelve Deeper…What Happened In Troika Since We’ve Been Gone? d66 Odd Events!
- 2023 to 2024, Review and ForecastI’m very excited about 2024. In review, 2023 was a slower year for us than 2022. In 2022, we released,
- The “Google” Spell for 5e – Ebrohim’s Inquiry Lingum
Many years ago, I had an idea when I was playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition. Search engines sureDelve Deeper…The “Google” Spell for 5e – Ebrohim’s Inquiry Lingum
- 🌙 Chapultepec (Troika! Microsphere)Jungle d66 Encounter Table d66 Encounter 11 1d6 Tigers 41 The air is filled with the smell of Pungent
- An Honest Review: MÖRK BORG
MÖRK BORG is quite a unique and intriguing addition to the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) scene. It’s known for its - OSR vs 5e – What Fun Looks Like
I’ve been playing a lot of OSR games lately and have been really enjoying them. Mixed with my 5e games - Lost in the Woods? How to Hex Crawl in 5e
Fifth Edition’s approach to exploration gets a bad rap. Hex crawling is often seen as an OSR affectation, with 5e - Moon Elves’ Masquerade Battlemap Photos!
As much as we love making these games, nothing beats hearing back from people who’ve enjoyed playing them. We’re taking - Drawn from the Margins: Playtest Launch and First Look!
Enjoy this playtest copy of Drawn from the Margins, WatcherDM’s newest Troika!-compatible adventure module! Written for the Illuminated Manuscript Jam,Delve Deeper…Drawn from the Margins: Playtest Launch and First Look!
- The First Look at Drawn from the Margins!
Hey folks! We’re almost done writing Drawn from the Margins, our newest Troika adventure, but before we finish, we wanted - Drawn from the Margins: Dev Log 1
I’ve been working on Drawn from the Margins for about five days now. We started with a real embarrassment of - Dream Themed Magic Items to Reward Your Dreaming PCs
To celebrate this month’s launch of The Trouble with Dreams (and Wake Up Sheeple), WatcherDM presents you with eight dream-themedDelve Deeper…Dream Themed Magic Items to Reward Your Dreaming PCs
- Everyone is Wrong but Me: the Nature Skill
The Nature skill is not what you might call a community favorite. Like all knowledge skills, it goes unused too - The Suits
For this is a universe that understands order, that understands service. Anonymity is armor. Blandness is balance. Conformity is control. And so the creators of our world have eschewed the Inevitables, impressive though they may be, and chosen a different avatar for the invisible hand of order: The Suits … Delve Deeper…The Suits - The 16 Howling Poets of Long Bear Valley
Long Bear Valley has been out for just three short months now and I can’t tell you how happy it - Beyond the Jade Door
A fan story by CuttleFishPress about Spooptoberween Spooptacular The jade door scrapes open, leaving new scratches on an already worn - Ten Lords a-Leaping: the Jump Knights of Yuul
The vast and ancient Kingdom of Yuul, ever shrouded in winter, is mankinds’ first line of defense against those northern - A Collection of Unique Backgrounds for 5e
This week we are bringing you three great background for your next 5e character. These were all lovingly crafted by - After the Starter set? Level five and beyond…
Hands up how many have played the Starter or Essentials set, have reached level five and stalled out, wondering “what’sDelve Deeper…After the Starter set? Level five and beyond…
- Musical Modules and Melodious Melodrama Meets D&D
Overture & Curtains Musicals are back and I am hyped. I don’t just mean that Broadway is re-opening, though thatDelve Deeper…Musical Modules and Melodious Melodrama Meets D&D
- “What do we do next?” – Reusing and Remixing ContentIf you have a bunch of tools you can repurpose, then you’re already set up to drop in some new content and keep the adventure going. … Delve Deeper…“What do we do next?” – Reusing and Remixing Content
- GMJ reviews: Masque of the Worms
Running a D&D game is hard. You have a lot to manage both before and during the session, and it - How to Win a Fight without Fighting, Non-combat resolutions
Here’s a quick TLDR version for anyone in a rush! There is always a way for a Dungeon Master toDelve Deeper…How to Win a Fight without Fighting, Non-combat resolutions
- Go Zhuzh Yourself: 4 Tables to Make a Unique Character, Fast
Making a Unique Character, Fast! Has this ever happened to you? You’re hanging out on a Friday night after workingDelve Deeper…Go Zhuzh Yourself: 4 Tables to Make a Unique Character, Fast
- Bakto’s Terrifying Cuisine Review: Amazing Delicious Weird
There are a lot of modules on the internet. Dear reader, it was not always this way. Many of youDelve Deeper…Bakto’s Terrifying Cuisine Review: Amazing Delicious Weird
- Cleric Domains and Gods of the Glassmen
To understand the Cleric domains, you need to know about the gods of the Glassmen. The Glassmen worship three gods: - Let’s Get Weird With It; The Spicy Supplement of Strange
Where’s The Spice? Let me ask you a question: did you play the Rick & Morty adventure for Dungeons &Delve Deeper…Let’s Get Weird With It; The Spicy Supplement of Strange
- Ten Minute Player Prep; Make the Most of Your Character
We here at WatcherDM dedicate ourselves to giving Dungeon Masters the best, weirdest, and most creative tools to run DungeonsDelve Deeper…Ten Minute Player Prep; Make the Most of Your Character
- Training, Ritual, and Ceremony in Leveling Up Tiers
Tiers We bandy about the term tiers fairly often. They come up when we’re talking about how ‘hard’ an adventureDelve Deeper…Training, Ritual, and Ceremony in Leveling Up Tiers
- Turncoat Villain 2: Building Better Baddies
Previously, on Blog Post Z: Return of the Turncoat Villain. You want to write a mastermind villain, but your players - Moon Themed Magic Items to Reward Your Moon Worshipping PCs
To celebrate our recent outpouring of lunar-themed content (Moon Elves’ Masquerade & Tomb of Transformation), we at WatcherDM are delightedDelve Deeper…Moon Themed Magic Items to Reward Your Moon Worshipping PCs
- Big Brains & Reversible Jackets: The Turncoat Villain
No Plan Survives First Contact With A Horny Bard Who doesn’t love a good mastermind villain? You’ve got your grandDelve Deeper…Big Brains & Reversible Jackets: The Turncoat Villain
- Polydismorphia; The Shapeshifting Sickness Of The Elves
The transmutation of living beings is one of the great benchmarks of magical progress. Academic arcanists have long attempted to imitate what elves and druids arrive at so easily: the power and freedom of polymorphia, the ability to change your form as one changes clothes. Yet, like all magic power, it comes at a cost. Forcing the mind and soul through multiple bodies can leave lingering marks on the ego, like a palimpsest self. … Delve Deeper…Polydismorphia; The Shapeshifting Sickness Of The Elves - Perfect Schmerfect; Let’s Get Weird With It
There’s nothing quite like character creation to keep your creative muscles in shape when it comes to having fun playing - Hedonist Background Brings Out Your Inner Party Animal
You are a legend at celebrations, shindigs, and other such functions. Your sheer enjoyment seems to rub off on others around you during times of merrymaking. … Delve Deeper…Hedonist Background Brings Out Your Inner Party Animal - Creating Narrative Cost for Magic in 5th Edition
World-shaping Power At Dollar Store Prices I want to talk to you about magic. Make no mistake; magic is rad.Delve Deeper…Creating Narrative Cost for Magic in 5th Edition
- The Worn Web: A Drow Variant to Add Lore and Depth
The ink is made from rendered myconid flesh and illithid ichor, and its use causes alternating fits of sickness and rage. Convalescence lasts three days, and when the marked Drow rises on the third day, she is forever changed. … Delve Deeper…The Worn Web: A Drow Variant to Add Lore and Depth - Carousing Catastrophes and Social Solutions to the Party Problem
We here at Watcher DM are very proud to be bringing those of you on our mailing list a brandDelve Deeper…Carousing Catastrophes and Social Solutions to the Party Problem
- How do Like the Kenku Do?
I, Kenku (And So Can You!) Dungeons and Dragons has a ton of awesome races to pick from to create - Modular, Imaginative, Massive, Easy, and Reusable: My Five Design Principles
Thank you very much to everyone who read Doom Desert in the Decanter of Delirium! I hope you enjoy playingDelve Deeper…Modular, Imaginative, Massive, Easy, and Reusable: My Five Design Principles
- How to Reclaim Alignment and Empower Imaginative Character Narrative, Easily
Good vs. Evil, Laws vs. Chaos, easy. It doesn’t take much to see this “easy” solution fall over, however. In this article, I would like to explore the possibilities available behind the idea of alignment and a simple implementation change that can bring new life into this old standby. … Delve Deeper…How to Reclaim Alignment and Empower Imaginative Character Narrative, Easily - The Most Impressive and Powerful DM Leverage this Tool!
With no cynicism or irony whatsoever, I am writing this today to tell you about the common tool of theDelve Deeper…The Most Impressive and Powerful DM Leverage this Tool!
- Six Tips for Dealing with GM Anxiety
I’ve seen several DMs post requests for tips on dealing with GM anxiety; something similar to the following: “I get - DM Advice: Peering Into The Mind of the Watcher
A feed of my answers over time in different venues to common questions about D&D and DMing specifically. … Delve Deeper…DM Advice: Peering Into The Mind of the Watcher - CR, Challenge, and Engagement in 5e
I would like to take a moment to discuss a topic I see on the web in varying formats. The - Delerium and Doom in the Desert! Our Absurdist D&D
Watcher DM is partnering with an amazing writer to bring you an absurdist d&d adventure with all-new art. Watch theDelve Deeper…Delerium and Doom in the Desert! Our Absurdist D&D
- WatcherDM: Strange Ways Festival
The Strange Ways Festival is a great way to kick off a new campaign. It can provide a slight reprieve
Weird Adventures for Adventurous Weirdos