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Travis Miller's Blog About Sword & Sorcery Fiction and Classic Fantasy Adventure Gaming

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Category: musings

About the Current D&D Conversation.

On December 22, 2022January 2, 2023 By Travis MillerIn 5E, game business, musings6 Comments

There's is a lot of heated talk about the brand and the game of Dungeons & Dragons. I have thoughts. These thoughts are about the response I am seeing more than what WotC is doing.

You Can Play It Wrong.

On December 15, 2022February 9, 2025 By Travis MillerIn assumption busters, game mastering advice, musings15 Comments

"As long as everyone is having fun, you are playing it right." Bullshit.

Swords Against Snobbery

On November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 By Travis MillerIn musings7 Comments

I am addicted to snobbery, but I'm trying not to be.

It’s Just A Game

On October 20, 2022November 21, 2022 By Travis MillerIn musings7 Comments

Tabletop gamers love to argue. For some of us, it is as much a part of the hobby as actually playing. At some point in any lengthy disagreement between enthusiasts someone will say, “I don’t know what you are all getting worked up about, it’s just a game.” It is usually meant as a dismissive …

Continue reading It’s Just A Game

Guest Post on RPG Systems from Rob Kuntz

On October 13, 2022October 13, 2022 By Travis MillerIn blog dialogue, design theory, guest post, musings1 Comment

Rob Kuntz shares some thoughts about RPG systems.

What Is A Tabletop RPG System?

On October 6, 2022October 6, 2022 By Travis MillerIn design theory, musings5 Comments

I'm flailing around with trying to understand what the word "system" means in a role-playing game and the implications of it for game design. Also, I've been flailing around for something to write about this week and here is what my demons decided. This is a bunch of incomplete thoughts that I'm trying to give …

Continue reading What Is A Tabletop RPG System?

Books about storytelling and writing on a shelf

How Storytelling Skills Apply to Game Mastering

On September 29, 2022August 9, 2025 By Travis MillerIn assumption busters, musings, storytelling7 Comments

What can game masters learn from storytelling professionals?

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Travis Miller

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.

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Cover of a a roleplaying game product titled "Hogwater: Village of Secrets" by Travis Miller

If you aren't logged into DTRPG or have your account settings to see adult content, Hogwater won't show up for you when you click on the link. The "adult" content is limited to the cover and bit of suggestive text in one encounter.

Hogwater: Village of Secrets is a starting location for a sandbox campaign. It includes everything you need to begin a campaign while still having the space to add your favorite old school modules or build your own. There are factions, non-player characters, unique monsters, locations, and a series of pre-written hooks for you to introduce players to the village of Hogwater and its troubles.

Immortals Inc, one of Cleveland's best Friendly Local Game Stores, keeps signed copies of Hogwater in stock. They ship to locations inside of the United States or you can pick it up yourself if you happen to be in the area. Great shop and great people. I also run special events and appear on their YouTube channel from time to time.

Buy Hogwater on Lulu in Print. Send me the receipt and I'll send you a PDF for free.

Buy Hogwater in PDF on Lulu

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Ten Foot Pole

Dweller of the Forbidden City

Delta’s D&D Hotspot

Joe Abercrombie’s Blog

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Age of Dusk

Witch House

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Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast

 

 

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