Field notes & short fiction from the forge.
Design diaries, table-tested craft, release notes, and free stories set in the worlds behind the adventures. A deep backlog, updated as the ink dries.
Latest Post
Comedy-Horror One-Shots: Balancing Laughs and Dread
A comedy horror one-shot is the hardest tonal tightrope in D&D. Here's how to balance laughs and dread so each makes the other land harder.
How to Run a Halloween DND One-Shot (GM Guide)
How to run a Halloween DND one-shot that actually scares — building dread, pacing, light and sound, safety tools, and landing an…
May 16, 2026Running D&D Stealth & Infiltration: How to Keep the Loud Player Engaged
Running stealth and infiltration in D&D? This guide covers the loud-player problem, alternative roles for non-stealth characters, and how to keep all…
May 16, 2026D&D Shipwreck Adventure: Running Survival One-Shots on Hostile Shores
Running a D&D shipwreck adventure? Three opening setups, hostile-shore environments, survival mechanics, and the published one-shot for 2-3 players.
May 15, 2026D&D Moral Dilemma One-Shots: When the Party Has to Sacrifice Something
Running a D&D moral dilemma one-shot? This guide covers the four kinds of sacrifice, how to structure the choice, and the published…
May 14, 2026D&D Heist Targets: 10 Things Worth Stealing in a One-Shot
Designing a D&D heist? Ten target objects worth stealing in a one-shot, plus the design rules that make a great heist McGuffin.
May 13, 2026Faerie Bargains in D&D 5e: Running NPCs Who Trade in Promises
Running faerie bargains in D&D 5e? This guide covers what makes fae deals different, five bargain types, the auction mechanic, and how…
May 12, 2026Cozy Dark Fairy Tale D&D: When Whimsy Has Teeth
Cozy D&D doesn't have to mean low stakes. This guide covers cozy dark fairy tale one-shots — warm tone, real consequences, and…
May 11, 2026D&D Heist Crew Roles: Building a 2-3 Player Specialist Team
Building a heist crew for 2-3 D&D players? Crew roles, hybrid specialist builds, and how to compress a six-person heist team into…
May 10, 2026Black Cat NPCs in D&D: Familiar, Guide, or Trickster
Building a black cat NPC for D&D? Three classic archetypes — familiar, guide, trickster — with stat block notes and the fairy…
May 9, 2026
