Skip to content

Grumpy Wizard

Essays on Sword & Sorcery Fiction, Classic Adventure Gaming, and Heavy Metal Music

  • Home
  • Now
  • Contact
  • Recommended

Category: inspiration

All the nerdy kids are doing #Dungeon23 and so can you!

On December 29, 2022December 29, 2022 By Travis MillerIn D.I.O., inspiration, Just For FunLeave a comment

Sean McCoy shared a project he is doing for 2023 and it's got some attention. I think it's good idea and I'm going to participate.

20 Questions About Magic In Your Milieu

On December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, inspiration4 Comments

Magic is a key ingredient in any classic fantasy adventure campaign. Here are 20 questions to think about when you are creating yours.

When You Write, Only Write.

On September 15, 2022September 14, 2022 By Travis MillerIn inspiration1 Comment

This is one of those posts about bolstering my own morale. I'm talking to myself. I might as well acknowledge it. My wife is going to read this and say, "You wrote that for yourself didn't you?" When you write, only write. You can't write and edit the writing at the same time. That never …

Continue reading When You Write, Only Write.

Lessons Learned From Horizon: Forbidden West

On August 11, 2022August 10, 2022 By Travis MillerIn design theory, game mastering advice, inspiration, video gamesLeave a comment

Here are three lessons I learned about world and scenario design from the Horizon video-games that apply to tabletop role-playing games. #TTRPG #gamemastering

Where Do I Start?

On January 6, 2022January 5, 2022 By Travis MillerIn inspiration, musings1 Comment

I watch or listen to interviews of filmmakers, musicians, comedians and anyone else who does creative work of any type. This is one manifestation of my own self doubt. Spending hours consuming these sorts of things is a place for me to hide and not work. I can rationalize and tell myself, "I'm listening to …

Continue reading Where Do I Start?

Recommendation: Three Books By Austin Kleon

On November 4, 2021 By Travis MillerIn inspiration, recommendedLeave a comment

Whether you are trying to figure out where creativity comes from, how to find an audience for your creations or how to keep going when your creativity seems to be failing you, I think you'll find something in one of these books that will help..

We

On September 23, 2021September 24, 2021 By Travis MillerIn blog dialogue, inspiration, musings1 Comment

I published a little essay a few weeks ago entitled the D.I.O. Manifesto. Brian at Deathtrap Games asked me about it the other day. I hadn't thought about the post much since I hit "publish." It had been sitting in my drafts folder for a while before I decided to put it up on the …

Continue reading We

Posts navigation

Older posts

Search the Grumpy Wizard Archives

writer Travis Miller, long beard long hair

I write about tabletop role-playing games, sword-and-sorcery fiction, storytelling, and heavy metal. 

The friendships I’ve forged while playing adventure games, listening to heavy music, and sharing stories saved my life and made it worth living.  

I live in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. America’s most underrated city.

Subscribe to get an email when I publish a new blog post.

Post Categories

Archive

Blogs I Follow

The Alexandrian

B/X Blackrazor

Hite Studios

Ten Foot Pole

Dweller of the Forbidden City

Delta’s D&D Hotspot

Hack & Slash

Joe Abercrombie’s Blog

From Kuroth’s Quill

Welcome To The Death Trap

Age of Dusk

Thews You Can Use

Witch House

The Pavilion Blog

Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Sword & Sorcery

The Silver Key

Podcasts I Like

Tides of History

Hardcore History

RPG Ramblings

Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection

Are you sure you want to do that? The box of DOOM. I was a guest in the swanky Immortals Inc. recording studio this afternoon. My wife's orchids are starting to bloom. She gave me one to brighten up the Grumperie. Saw a @kingbuffaloband show last night. The two openers were fantastic as well. I finished Volume I and now I am ready to go on to Volume II.  It's been a while since I read these and they are better than I remember them. One of the local game shops is... unique. Piles of stuff everywhere. Sometimes I find a good deal on a scarce and obscure item. #flgs I'm writing a dungeon room a day in 2023. I have a post about it on my blog. Finishing up my annual reading of The Hogfather. I always marvel at Terry Pratchett's skill. Happy Hogswatch!

Follow Travis on Twitter

My Tweets

Travis on Facebook

Travis on Facebook

Category Cloud

design theory game business game mastering advice game report inspiration musings my campaign recommended storytelling Uncategorized
  • RSS - Posts
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • Grumpy Wizard
    • Join 123 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Grumpy Wizard
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy