W. F. Smith 7/2/24 W. F. Smith 7/2/24

A LEGO Jam Retrospective: Trouble in Paradisa

In which I talk about how to write an adventure in a weekend and a method for connecting NPCs in a web of relationships.

W. F. Smith 5/14/24 W. F. Smith 5/14/24

Between Two Jams

In which I implore your participation in two game jams this summer: the Lego RPG Setting Jam and the Barkeep Jam. I extol their virtues and cajole all creators to join in the fun.

W. F. Smith 10/12/23 W. F. Smith 10/12/23

The One-Shot Pubcrawl

Suggestions for running Barkeep on the Borderlands as a one-shot adventure, plus a new character background: Monarch’s Bastard.

W. F. Smith 4/1/23 W. F. Smith 4/1/23

Of Mysteries, Monsters and Mosquitillos

I reveal a new monster from the origins of the hobby. This monster languished while its siblings, like the Owlbear and Rust Monster, are being featured in major motion pictures. Life is unfair sometimes.

W. F. Smith 8/4/22 W. F. Smith 8/4/22

Hey, You Got Commercialization In My Hobby (also ZineQuest 4)

Why commercialization doesn’t mean you aren’t a hobbyist, plus a look at this year’s Zine Quest offerings.

W. F. Smith 2/22/22 W. F. Smith 2/22/22

Conspiracy in the Borderlands

An evaluation of the true villains of the classic adventure: the Cult of Evil Chaos, including what they might be up to two hundred years later.

W. F. Smith 1/25/22 W. F. Smith 1/25/22

Barkeep on the Borderlands Preview: The Birdcage

How to make an adventure also serve as a modular toolkit for referees, plus a preview from Barkeep on the Borderlands.

W. F. Smith 12/31/21 W. F. Smith 12/31/21

Dicember: Parting Thoughts

For Dyson Logos’ Dicember Challenge, I address the final prompts for the month, but up the challenge by pairing the prompts together.

W. F. Smith 10/22/21 W. F. Smith 10/22/21

Do the Monster Mashup

I mashup several classic Halloween monsters to create ten new spooky monsters, and discuss how I would use them in games.

W. F. Smith 10/4/21 W. F. Smith 10/4/21

The Mansion Under the Ghost Lake

Ideas for a spooky, lake-themed adventure.

W. F. Smith 7/27/21 W. F. Smith 7/27/21

Design Commentary: Big Rock Candy Hexcrawl

I walk through the process for making my first adventure, what it did well, and what it could have done better.

W. F. Smith 4/27/21 W. F. Smith 4/27/21

A Preview of Coming Attractions

I discuss the TTRPG projects I am working on: Big Rock Candy Hexcrawl, Barkeep on the Borderlands, Unaccredited Magic User Boarding School, and Prismatic Wasteland.

W. F. Smith 4/22/21 W. F. Smith 4/22/21

The Motorcyclops! Lone Biker of the Apocalypse

A new monster for use in post-apocalyptic settings: the motorcyclops!

W. F. Smith 12/11/20 W. F. Smith 12/11/20

Troikafeld! A Review and Starting Adventure

A review of the Seinfeld-based Troika! supplement and a starting adventure for it.