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

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Tag: osr

The Basic Structures That Role-Playing Games and Stories Have In Common

On March 28, 2024February 11, 2026 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, storytelling

There are some basic elements of story that are helpful for a game master to know. This post is about those elements and why games and stories share them.

“Sandbox vs. Railroad” Is a False Dichotomy

On February 22, 2024February 22, 2024 By Travis MillerIn sandbox9 Comments

Is Sandbox Vs. Railroad a useful comparison? I don't think it is. Here's why.

Grumpy Wizard’s House Rules: Dual-classing

On February 15, 2024February 15, 2024 By Travis MillerIn house rules2 Comments

In my Kalador campaign, the group lost the player who ran the wizard to real life issues. It quickly became clear to the players that they needed a wizard in the group. I offered several options and what we came to was a player character would become a dual classed fighter/magic user. Because Swords & …

Continue reading Grumpy Wizard’s House Rules: Dual-classing

On the Passing of Jennell Jaquays

On January 11, 2024April 10, 2025 By Travis MillerIn musings5 Comments

Jennell Jaquays, one of the great designers and artists of tabletop role-playing games, died yesterday, January 10, 2024. A lot of old schoolers gush about the The Caverns of Thracia and Dark Tower. Those are good adventures but some of Jennell's other works have been far more important to me.

The Dumbest Question in Dungeons & Dragons Fandom

On January 4, 2024May 22, 2025 By Travis MillerIn musings5 Comments

There is a particularly dumb question that has caused more fights in Dungeons & Dragons fandom than any other. I do have an answer to the question but it's probably not the answer most querents expect.

How I Make Rulings About Basic Adventuring Skills

On December 14, 2023December 14, 2023 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice8 Comments

Classic adventure games don't have a lot of skills that are included in the rules. Some skills and knowledge are assumed. I tend to give a lot of leeway when it comes to common tasks.

Politics Is Not Fun

On December 7, 2023August 28, 2025 By Travis MillerIn game business, musings24 Comments

Some gamers incorporate their political views into their tabletop roleplaying game hobby. I don't like it. It ruins the fun. Even worse, it ruins the possibility of fun.

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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


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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