How Do I Create Random Generation Tables for a Sandbox Campaign?

On March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, inspiration2 Comments

In last week's post I wrote about how random generation tables have some uses but they also have some drawbacks. The biggest drawback I find is that the tables created by other GMs or designers often have assumptions and contexts that don't fit whatever campaign setting I'm running. The major drawback of random generation tables. …

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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.

Is Fudging Dice Good Game Mastering?

On May 25, 2023June 9, 2023 By Travis MillerIn assumption busters, game mastering advice5 Comments

It's bad practice to fudge dice rolls for a number of reasons.

Grumpy Wizard’s Reviews and Recommendations

On March 9, 2023May 15, 2025 By Travis MillerIn comics, fiction, music, recommended, Review, sword-and-sorcery, teevee, video games3 Comments

I want to be clear about what I review, how I review, and why. I don't want to be known primarily as a reviewer of RPGs, books, and music. Even though reviews get more traffic than most other types of posts, I don't do many of them. If views and followers were my primary metric, …

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Old School D&D was Built For Sandbox Campaigns

On February 16, 2023February 18, 2024 By Travis MillerIn design theory, sandbox1 Comment

The original fantasy adventure game was built on the sandbox campaign structure. Sandbox campaigns can take many forms but remain the best structure for OSR gaming.