#ttrpgwriter — Public Fediverse posts

RPGaDay2026 Day 9: Privilege.

“Silver is for peasants” – Lord Reginald Archibald III.

Once a knight of virtue and valor, then a money lender followed by a brief stint as and exchequer, now lord regent of the town of Lunae where he is treated as royalty. “Old Reggie” rarely leaves his manor at the center of town where he is waited-on 24/7, truly a mallard of privilege. He has never bothered to marry or have offspring because then he would have to share his wealth with someone and children are expensive.

The only time Lord Reginald Archibald III bothers to sully himself dealing with the peasants is when someone fails to pay what is owed or taxes. He once negotiated with a baron for admittance to Lunae but cast that ruffian to the outskirts of town for being too poor. Ironically that same baron was the very man who gave Reginald his start. His trusted seneschal, Rupert, now deals with such matters so long as they are to Archibald’s liking.

[Dark Secret: Reginald occasionally commits hostile takeovers or has his rivals murdered outright, usually by using assassins no one can trace back to him. He acquired the town’s brothel, the Tired Boar Inn, and the town’s exchequer this way. Crossing or betraying this mallard usually leads to a visit from his thugs.]

His two biggest fears in life are vampires and becoming poor. He is utterly paranoid of both which is why he keeps to himself and knows everyone in his household extremely well. He regularly tests his night staff to make sure they are not vampires or under the influence of a vampire. Unfortunately interacting with the peasants is just something that happens sometimes.

Adventurers coming into Lunae are usually viewed as a threat or trouble. The town guard are 100% unshakably loyal to Lord Archibald. Most of the businesses and shops are owned or owe taxes to the Lord. Most of the townsfolk are very careful how they speak about him. Artisan, Mariner, Merchant and possibly Knight characters should be especially wary of wandering into Lunae because Lord Archibald’s guard will likely escort the group to meet Rupert.

The Lord wants a percentage of any coin earned while the group is in town and charges an additional “Adventurer’s Fee” of 1 GP each for access to the town’s services such as the armorer, blacksmith, stables, and of course, the apothecary. He does fancy Bards and Scholars and will work out a deal to keep them around so long as they sing his praises and listen to his long-winded stories about all of his various exploits.

“If one didn’t know better, you’d swear I have a private pond where I swim in gold coins. Preposterous!” –Lord Reginald Archibald III.

RPGaDay2026 Day 9: Privilege.

“Silver is for peasants” – Lord Reginald Archibald III.

Once a knight of virtue and valor, then a money lender followed by a brief stint as and exchequer, now lord regent of the town of Lunae where he is treated as royalty. “Old Reggie” rarely leaves his manor at the center of town where he is waited-on 24/7, truly a mallard of privilege. He has never bothered to marry or have offspring because then he would have to share his wealth with someone and children are expensive.

The only time Lord Reginald Archibald III bothers to sully himself dealing with the peasants is when someone fails to pay what is owed or taxes. He once negotiated with a baron for admittance to Lunae but cast that ruffian to the outskirts of town for being too poor. Ironically that same baron was the very man who gave Reginald his start. His trusted seneschal, Rupert, now deals with such matters so long as they are to Archibald’s liking.

[Dark Secret: Reginald occasionally commits hostile takeovers or has his rivals murdered outright, usually by using assassins no one can trace back to him. He acquired the town’s brothel, the Tired Boar Inn, and the town’s exchequer this way. Crossing or betraying this mallard usually leads to a visit from his thugs.]

His two biggest fears in life are vampires and becoming poor. He is utterly paranoid of both which is why he keeps to himself and knows everyone in his household extremely well. He regularly tests his night staff to make sure they are not vampires or under the influence of a vampire. Unfortunately interacting with the peasants is just something that happens sometimes.

Adventurers coming into Lunae are usually viewed as a threat or trouble. The town guard are 100% unshakably loyal to Lord Archibald. Most of the businesses and shops are owned or owe taxes to the Lord. Most of the townsfolk are very careful how they speak about him. Artisan, Mariner, Merchant and possibly Knight characters should be especially wary of wandering into Lunae because Lord Archibald’s guard will likely escort the group to meet Rupert.

The Lord wants a percentage of any coin earned while the group is in town and charges an additional “Adventurer’s Fee” of 1 GP each for access to the town’s services such as the armorer, blacksmith, stables, and of course, the apothecary. He does fancy Bards and Scholars and will work out a deal to keep them around so long as they sing his praises and listen to his long-winded stories about all of his various exploits.

“If one didn’t know better, you’d swear I have a private pond where I swim in gold coins. Preposterous!” –Lord Reginald Archibald III.

RPGaDay2026 Day 8: Resolve.

“Dwarves never quit.” –Stimpson.

As stated in the rules, Dragonbane Dwarves tend to carry a bit of a grudge against anyone who ever harmed them. Stimpson is a fine example of that. He usually doesn’t wear an armor and swears helmets are for the faint of heart. He is the definition of stubborn, even more so when he’s angry. He definitely remembers anyone who ever made him angry.

Stimpson is a hands-on bareknuckle brawler. Humans have called him a “wrestler,” whatever that means. He’s not afraid to pick up an axe, sword, club, or whatever, but he prefers to beat the unholy living crap out of things with his knuckledusters or his bare hands.

Stimpson definitely has a softer side, though. He’s a bit of a ladies’ dwarf when he’s out on the town with friends. When he has friends, anyway. When he’s in a town he actually remembers the name of, mostly. Stimpson tends to drink heavily when he’s not flirting or showing off. He is one burly dwarf, after all.

He’s not much for artistic or intellectual pursuits beyond brewing and occasionally helping around the inn in exchange for a room and food. He loves dogs. Dogs are loyal and a good judge of character. Stimpson’s favorite dog is a bulldog named Renaldo who follows him around most of the time. The two seem to have no problems finding adventures or trouble, sometimes both.

Stat block to come at a later date.

I feel like sometimes it’s okay to lean into well-worn tropes and stereotypes. It especially makes NPCs easier to relate-to and get along with or not depending. I could see myself playing Stimpson as a PC or just having him be someone the group bumps into now and then. He’d make a terrible NPC torchbearer or porter, but he is built for adventure. Maybe he’d follow the group into a dungeon with the promise of ale and wenches afterward. He’s cool like that.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 7: Mercy.

Dorvin, the village apothecary for Dragonbane RPG.

Once upon a time there lived an Orc named Dorvin the Mad who ran with a tribe of embittered mercenaries-turned-bandits along the Timber Road. Betrayed by humans on more than one occasion, the bandits of Dorvin’s Missing Tooth Tribe were ruthless attacking traders and loggers all up and down the road, even attacking fellow Orcs in the logging town to the north once.

One day Dorvin’s troop attacked a caravan bound for the human settlement of Pinehold, and he was struck down by a lucky crossbow shot from one of the guards. His fellow orcs promptly abandoned him and fled. The caravan guard beat Dorvin senseless, laughing as they went. A thin young lady hopped down from the carriage and approached them.

Her name was Sella Fenroot. With a simple wave of her hand and a bright, cheerful smile she convinced them to stop. She then convinced the guard to drape Dorvin over his horse, and they continued on to Pinehold.

Sella had Dorvin taken to the village apothecary, a doddering elder gentleman named Alton who immediately took the orc into his cottage to treat his wounds. Dorvin pulled through, but it was uncertain for several days while the apothecary did all he could. When Dorvin awoke, he was surprised by his surroundings and even more by his caretaker. Sella even dropped by to check on him and receive overwhelming thanks.

Making amends for prior bad deeds.

Dorvin remembers most of his life before the severe beating that landed him in Pinehold. He has no need to battle any more. He saw that bloodshed was not a means to an end. Alton was not long from retiring and wanted to spend more time tending his garden, so he agreed to teach Dorvin the ways of the apothecary.

Dorvin’s battle axe now hangs on the wall of the new apothecary’s shack Dorvin built for himself. He is becoming a welcome member of Pinehold and has learned much from Alton. Most of the town now comes to him with their minor maladies and he still consults Alton with cases he can’t cure on his own. He appreciates Sella and speaks to her often.

Dorvin, NPC Apothecary.
HP 18. WP 12
Skills: Axes 15, Bushcraft 14, Healing 12, Hunting & Fishing 12, Alchemy 10.
Knows the following Alchemy Recipes (Book of Magic.)
Herbal Concoction, Medicinal Water, Antidote, Healing Draught.
On any given day he has enough material on hand to brew two potions.

Dorvin will go to great lengths to avoid conflict with the group. He rarely charges more for potions than what he needs for flasks and components.

RPGaDay2026 Day 7: Mercy.

Dorvin, the village apothecary for Dragonbane RPG.

Once upon a time there lived an Orc named Dorvin the Mad who ran with a tribe of embittered mercenaries-turned-bandits along the Timber Road. Betrayed by humans on more than one occasion, the bandits of Dorvin’s Missing Tooth Tribe were ruthless attacking traders and loggers all up and down the road, even attacking fellow Orcs in the logging town to the north once.

One day Dorvin’s troop attacked a caravan bound for the human settlement of Pinehold, and he was struck down by a lucky crossbow shot from one of the guards. His fellow orcs promptly abandoned him and fled. The caravan guard beat Dorvin senseless, laughing as they went. A thin young lady hopped down from the carriage and approached them.

Her name was Sella Fenroot. With a simple wave of her hand and a bright, cheerful smile she convinced them to stop. She then convinced the guard to drape Dorvin over his horse, and they continued on to Pinehold.

Sella had Dorvin taken to the village apothecary, a doddering elder gentleman named Alton who immediately took the orc into his cottage to treat his wounds. Dorvin pulled through, but it was uncertain for several days while the apothecary did all he could. When Dorvin awoke, he was surprised by his surroundings and even more by his caretaker. Sella even dropped by to check on him and receive overwhelming thanks.

Making amends for prior bad deeds.

Dorvin remembers most of his life before the severe beating that landed him in Pinehold. He has no need to battle any more. He saw that bloodshed was not a means to an end. Alton was not long from retiring and wanted to spend more time tending his garden, so he agreed to teach Dorvin the ways of the apothecary.

Dorvin’s battle axe now hangs on the wall of the new apothecary’s shack Dorvin built for himself. He is becoming a welcome member of Pinehold and has learned much from Alton. Most of the town now comes to him with their minor maladies and he still consults Alton with cases he can’t cure on his own. He appreciates Sella and speaks to her often.

Dorvin, NPC Apothecary.
HP 18. WP 12
Skills: Axes 15, Bushcraft 14, Healing 12, Hunting & Fishing 12, Alchemy 10.
Knows the following Alchemy Recipes (Book of Magic.)
Herbal Concoction, Medicinal Water, Antidote, Healing Draught.
On any given day he has enough material on hand to brew two potions.

Dorvin will go to great lengths to avoid conflict with the group. He rarely charges more for potions than what he needs for flasks and components.

RPGaDay2026 Day 6: Reach.

Hacks. Hero or Menace?

Continuing with RPGaDay2026 we have another superhero for the Reformed Cinematic Universe.

Character Name: Marlon Johnson.
Codename: Hacks.
Team: The Reformed.
Powers: Cybernetic Interface, Teleportation.
Incarcerated For: Breaking and Entering, Burglary, Computer Crimes, Hacking, various minor charges.

Marlon Johnson was a victim of circumstance originally. He was a fairly average high school kid living in inner city Detroit when a freak bolt of lighting struck him and the laptop he was using through an open window. Somehow Marlon survived even though the house was destroyed and his laptop. No one else was home at the time.

Desperate to get a new laptop and get into a decent college, Marlon began planning thefts of the components he would need to build a new computer. That’s when he discovered his unique ability to interact with various electronic devices using just his mind. Soon electronics stores were missing high dollar inventory with no indication of anything on camera or alarms triggered.

Then Marlon got a little too cocky. He thought he found the perfect bank. He had the cameras shut down, the alarms disabled, and the vault unlocked in the First National Bank. He confidently walked through the front door with two empty duffel bags ready to steal his college tuition. He didn’t count on the branch manager working late. Before Marlon could finish filling the second bag, police had the building surrounded.

Walking out of the vault with money in hand, Marlon was staring down the barrels of guns held by several angry looking police officers. Marlon wished to be anywhere, but where he was. He thought about his favorite burger restaurant. He remembered his favorite booth where he hung out with his brother and friends. Just as he was putting the first bag on the floor, POOF! He was in the restaurant, money still in hand.

Marlon managed to erase the police body cam footage from the incident as soon as he got home through the second use of his teleportation. He learned that the power has a range that becomes progressively shorter each time he used it and the power itself was becoming exhausting with each use. Marlon breathed easy knowing he was set for life, and no one could stop him.

Unfortunately for Marlon, his brother got messed up with the wrong gang. Tragedy struck as his parents were gunned down in front of the house, and police showed up asking a lot of questions. Marlon managed to hide his ill-gotten gain in the attic, but freeing his brother from federal custody was another issue entirely.

What Marlon didn’t know is that his brother’s incarceration was mostly to bait him into using his powers one last time. The Unknown Detective had experience dealing with teleporters and cyber criminals. It didn’t take him long to sus out Marlon and his brother. His family’s death was an unintended side effect of angering a violent gang who were later brought to custody by the Unknown Detective.

Marlon’s brother was later released and found not guilty due to a technicality. Marlon teleported himself directly into a holding cell where the Detective slapped nullifying isolation cuffs on his wrists as soon as he appeared. Marlon was later sentenced and sent to the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where he met Jack Kingston and agreed to help the team in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Marlon has turned out to be one of the team’s most powerful assets. He can control communications, hack into almost any facility that has a computer, teleport into any room he has seen or can see through various camera systems. He once even grounded a helicopter before a notorious gangster could escape arrest.

He has a crush on his teammate, Charade. Jack does not approve of any fraternization on the team, but Marlon frequently messages Charade and they spend a lot of time together when Jack isn’t looking. He also sneaks out for pizza and burgers after lights out. So far he hasn’t gotten caught nor has he committed any crimes while working with The Reformed.

Marlon does still bear a grudge against The Unknown Detective and has been trying to track down the mystery masked man for a showdown. Luckily, Detective keeps a low profile and lives completely off the grid.

Hacks came up for this prompt because his reach extends far and wide due to his ability to see anywhere with a camera on the internet and usually teleport there. Hacks is what has been classified as a “serial teleporter” because he has to make multiple jumps to cover long distances. If pushed too hard, repeated rapid teleportation has landed him in the hospital with nosebleeds, dehydration, severe exhaustion, and a seizure on one occasion. Luckily he is not a criminal at heart and Jack is hoping to reign him in to make Hacks a force for good.

All characters mentioned in this post are fictional. Any semblance to real world individuals living or deceased is purely unintentional. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 6: Reach.

Hacks. Hero or Menace?

Continuing with RPGaDay2026 we have another superhero for the Reformed Cinematic Universe.

Character Name: Marlon Johnson.
Codename: Hacks.
Team: The Reformed.
Powers: Cybernetic Interface, Teleportation.
Incarcerated For: Breaking and Entering, Burglary, Computer Crimes, Hacking, various minor charges.

Marlon Johnson was a victim of circumstance originally. He was a fairly average high school kid living in inner city Detroit when a freak bolt of lighting struck him and the laptop he was using through an open window. Somehow Marlon survived even though the house was destroyed and his laptop. No one else was home at the time.

Desperate to get a new laptop and get into a decent college, Marlon began planning thefts of the components he would need to build a new computer. That’s when he discovered his unique ability to interact with various electronic devices using just his mind. Soon electronics stores were missing high dollar inventory with no indication of anything on camera or alarms triggered.

Then Marlon got a little too cocky. He thought he found the perfect bank. He had the cameras shut down, the alarms disabled, and the vault unlocked in the First National Bank. He confidently walked through the front door with two empty duffel bags ready to steal his college tuition. He didn’t count on the branch manager working late. Before Marlon could finish filling the second bag, police had the building surrounded.

Walking out of the vault with money in hand, Marlon was staring down the barrels of guns held by several angry looking police officers. Marlon wished to be anywhere, but where he was. He thought about his favorite burger restaurant. He remembered his favorite booth where he hung out with his brother and friends. Just as he was putting the first bag on the floor, POOF! He was in the restaurant, money still in hand.

Marlon managed to erase the police body cam footage from the incident as soon as he got home through the second use of his teleportation. He learned that the power has a range that becomes progressively shorter each time he used it and the power itself was becoming exhausting with each use. Marlon breathed easy knowing he was set for life, and no one could stop him.

Unfortunately for Marlon, his brother got messed up with the wrong gang. Tragedy struck as his parents were gunned down in front of the house, and police showed up asking a lot of questions. Marlon managed to hide his ill-gotten gain in the attic, but freeing his brother from federal custody was another issue entirely.

What Marlon didn’t know is that his brother’s incarceration was mostly to bait him into using his powers one last time. The Unknown Detective had experience dealing with teleporters and cyber criminals. It didn’t take him long to sus out Marlon and his brother. His family’s death was an unintended side effect of angering a violent gang who were later brought to custody by the Unknown Detective.

Marlon’s brother was later released and found not guilty due to a technicality. Marlon teleported himself directly into a holding cell where the Detective slapped nullifying isolation cuffs on his wrists as soon as he appeared. Marlon was later sentenced and sent to the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where he met Jack Kingston and agreed to help the team in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Marlon has turned out to be one of the team’s most powerful assets. He can control communications, hack into almost any facility that has a computer, teleport into any room he has seen or can see through various camera systems. He once even grounded a helicopter before a notorious gangster could escape arrest.

He has a crush on his teammate, Charade. Jack does not approve of any fraternization on the team, but Marlon frequently messages Charade and they spend a lot of time together when Jack isn’t looking. He also sneaks out for pizza and burgers after lights out. So far he hasn’t gotten caught nor has he committed any crimes while working with The Reformed.

Marlon does still bear a grudge against The Unknown Detective and has been trying to track down the mystery masked man for a showdown. Luckily, Detective keeps a low profile and lives completely off the grid.

Hacks came up for this prompt because his reach extends far and wide due to his ability to see anywhere with a camera on the internet and usually teleport there. Hacks is what has been classified as a “serial teleporter” because he has to make multiple jumps to cover long distances. If pushed too hard, repeated rapid teleportation has landed him in the hospital with nosebleeds, dehydration, severe exhaustion, and a seizure on one occasion. Luckily he is not a criminal at heart and Jack is hoping to reign him in to make Hacks a force for good.

All characters mentioned in this post are fictional. Any semblance to real world individuals living or deceased is purely unintentional. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 5: Burden.

“With great power comes great responsibility or something.” –Someone’s Uncle.

Elmer “the Great” has to forever live thinking he turned his best friend into a chicken.

Name Elmer.
Origin: Heir. Great grandson of the famous Wizard, Xoltar.
Kin: Huma
Way of Magic.

Elmer was practicing magic secretly in his barn for years because his family did not want him to grow up to be a mage. Elmer, having learned of his grandfather, decided he was going to be a great Champion someday and began learning the arcane arts.

Elmer’s best friend, Stan, was watching him one day and dared him to cast a spell. Elmer cast what he thought was an exciting spell and when the smoke cleared there was a chicken where Stan once stood. Stan of course dipped out through the back door of the barn with all of the smoke and confusion. Then Stan got distracted by farm chores and laying in the hot sun by the pond.

Meanwhile, Elmer, firmly believing Stan had been transformed into a chicken, panicked and cast more spells trying to cure his chicken of the curse he thought he had placed. After several failed attempts, Elmer collected his prized possessions, Stan the Chicken, and headed out on the open road knowing that his parents and Stan’s father would be furious.

Elmer wants to be a Champion like his great grandfather and learn how to “fix” Stan along the way.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 5: Burden.

“With great power comes great responsibility or something.” –Someone’s Uncle.

Elmer “the Great” has to forever live thinking he turned his best friend into a chicken.

Name Elmer.
Origin: Heir. Great grandson of the famous Wizard, Xoltar.
Kin: Huma
Way of Magic.

Elmer was practicing magic secretly in his barn for years because his family did not want him to grow up to be a mage. Elmer, having learned of his grandfather, decided he was going to be a great Champion someday and began learning the arcane arts.

Elmer’s best friend, Stan, was watching him one day and dared him to cast a spell. Elmer cast what he thought was an exciting spell and when the smoke cleared there was a chicken where Stan once stood. Stan of course dipped out through the back door of the barn with all of the smoke and confusion. Then Stan got distracted by farm chores and laying in the hot sun by the pond.

Meanwhile, Elmer, firmly believing Stan had been transformed into a chicken, panicked and cast more spells trying to cure his chicken of the curse he thought he had placed. After several failed attempts, Elmer collected his prized possessions, Stan the Chicken, and headed out on the open road knowing that his parents and Stan’s father would be furious.

Elmer wants to be a Champion like his great grandfather and learn how to “fix” Stan along the way.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 2: Stature

Meet my first ever Twilight Sword Character.

We call him Brick. He is a Pengu. Brick comes from humble beginnings and has decided to pick up his club and rid the world of bad guys. He might not be the smartest champion in the group, but he is one of the biggest and strongest.

Name: Brick
Origin: Chosen.
Kin: Pengu.
Way of the Hammer (Lands of Radia.)

Personality: Brick is actually pretty easy going despite his imposing stature. He likes the simple things in life such as fishing and sunsets. He is usually the first to volunteer for hard work and remains super loyal to his friends. He might be considered a touch gullible, but he is quick to trust and make friends.

He will carve a path of destruction in pursuit of bad guys. His one true goal in life is to see everyone happy and having fun. If someone hurts one of Brick’s friends, they had better run.

Jeff Note: I figure an 8 Bit character doesn’t need a huge backstory. How much did we really know about Link or any of the Final Fantasy PCs? It’s enough to know that Brick is a big dude and he enjoys the simple things in life. He’s also adept and eager to bash bad guys on the head.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 2: Stature

Meet my first ever Twilight Sword Character.

We call him Brick. He is a Pengu. Brick comes from humble beginnings and has decided to pick up his club and rid the world of bad guys. He might not be the smartest champion in the group, but he is one of the biggest and strongest.

Name: Brick
Origin: Chosen.
Kin: Pengu.
Way of the Hammer (Lands of Radia.)

Personality: Brick is actually pretty easy going despite his imposing stature. He likes the simple things in life such as fishing and sunsets. He is usually the first to volunteer for hard work and remains super loyal to his friends. He might be considered a touch gullible, but he is quick to trust and make friends.

He will carve a path of destruction in pursuit of bad guys. His one true goal in life is to see everyone happy and having fun. If someone hurts one of Brick’s friends, they had better run.

Jeff Note: I figure an 8 Bit character doesn’t need a huge backstory. How much did we really know about Link or any of the Final Fantasy PCs? It’s enough to know that Brick is a big dude and he enjoys the simple things in life. He’s also adept and eager to bash bad guys on the head.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 1: Discipline

For use with Outgunned Superheroes or any Supers RPG.

Character Name: Jack Kingston
Codename: Warden
Team Name: The Reformed.

Jack Kingston is the leader and primary contact for The Reformed, a group of “super elite misfits” as he calls them. He eagerly stepped into his role when the Department of Justice asked him to pick a team of metahuman inmates willing to cooperate in exchange for reduced sentences and time out of jail. Prior to this assignment, Jack was a guard at the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where his record was exemplary.

Before his life as a guard in one of the toughest prisons in America, Jack was a drill instructor for the United States Marine Corps. He is skilled in leadership and tactics as well as training in a variety of weapons. His physical prowess and overall being a gung-ho marine inspired the troops who trained under him.

While he possesses superior physical trains and mental agility, he was chosen for this mission because Jack has a hidden metahuman ability. He is what is called a nega-psychic. Basically he is immune to most mind control and magic effects. He just doesn’t believe in “any of that horse sh*t or nonsense” and it doesn’t affect him.

Jack isn’t afraid of field work but has to spend most of his time in Command & Communications making sure the team stays on mission. He is also the team’s primary liaison with the government and the Nevada Board of Corrections. Jack is accountable for any mistakes or damages the team might cause and is very upfront about his responsibilities.

While he tries to instill discipline and keep the team in line, Jack understands that they are mostly civilians and following orders is difficult for them. It never stops him from trying or getting really loud and abrasive when people don’t listen.

He is equipped with Kevlar body armor, a master comms headset, charged nightstick, and star metal K-Bar knife. He usually has a sidearm pistol and/or a taser which he rarely uses.

Catch Phrase: Somebody has to keep this bunch in line.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 1: Discipline

For use with Outgunned Superheroes or any Supers RPG.

Character Name: Jack Kingston
Codename: Warden
Team Name: The Reformed.

Jack Kingston is the leader and primary contact for The Reformed, a group of “super elite misfits” as he calls them. He eagerly stepped into his role when the Department of Justice asked him to pick a team of metahuman inmates willing to cooperate in exchange for reduced sentences and time out of jail. Prior to this assignment, Jack was a guard at the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where his record was exemplary.

Before his life as a guard in one of the toughest prisons in America, Jack was a drill instructor for the United States Marine Corps. He is skilled in leadership and tactics as well as training in a variety of weapons. His physical prowess and overall being a gung-ho marine inspired the troops who trained under him.

While he possesses superior physical trains and mental agility, he was chosen for this mission because Jack has a hidden metahuman ability. He is what is called a nega-psychic. Basically he is immune to most mind control and magic effects. He just doesn’t believe in “any of that horse sh*t or nonsense” and it doesn’t affect him.

Jack isn’t afraid of field work but has to spend most of his time in Command & Communications making sure the team stays on mission. He is also the team’s primary liaison with the government and the Nevada Board of Corrections. Jack is accountable for any mistakes or damages the team might cause and is very upfront about his responsibilities.

While he tries to instill discipline and keep the team in line, Jack understands that they are mostly civilians and following orders is difficult for them. It never stops him from trying or getting really loud and abrasive when people don’t listen.

He is equipped with Kevlar body armor, a master comms headset, charged nightstick, and star metal K-Bar knife. He usually has a sidearm pistol and/or a taser which he rarely uses.

Catch Phrase: Somebody has to keep this bunch in line.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

#RPGaDay2026

This year’s challenge involves characters.

1. Discipline
2. Stature
3. Poise
4. Charm
5. Burden
6. Reach
7. Mercy
8. Resolve
9. Privilege
10. Secret
11. Tact
12. Loss
13. Strain
14. Regard
15. Endurance
16. Composure
17. Intensity
18. Directness
19. Desire
20. Promise
21. Charity
22. Grit
23. Fortune
24. Distance
25. Familiarity
26. Regret
27. Hunger
28. Devotion
29. Labour
30. Pride
31. Edge.

The idea behind this year’s challenge is to keep it positive, make characters and NPCs, make sure to tag #RPGaDay2026, @autocratik, and @runeslinger.

#RPGaDay2026

This year’s challenge involves characters.

1. Discipline
2. Stature
3. Poise
4. Charm
5. Burden
6. Reach
7. Mercy
8. Resolve
9. Privilege
10. Secret
11. Tact
12. Loss
13. Strain
14. Regard
15. Endurance
16. Composure
17. Intensity
18. Directness
19. Desire
20. Promise
21. Charity
22. Grit
23. Fortune
24. Distance
25. Familiarity
26. Regret
27. Hunger
28. Devotion
29. Labour
30. Pride
31. Edge.

The idea behind this year’s challenge is to keep it positive, make characters and NPCs, make sure to tag #RPGaDay2026, @autocratik, and @runeslinger.

Freedom Day Five Years In.

It’s really been five years since they gave me the boot.

First off, let me start with saying, “no regrets.” Let me be the first to say I don’t miss the corporate grind or the corporate culture in the slightest. I definitely don’t miss four nights on, four nights off rotating while working 12-hour shifts. I certainly don’t miss the management.

As the Weird Al song Amish Paradise says, “I really don’t care, in fact I wish him (them) well
‘Cause I’ll be laughing my head off when he’s (they’re) burning in Hell”

That particular company will always have a spot of disdain and loathing with me for the rest of my life just given the way that last year went. (I still have PTSD from the butt chewings.) I won’t set foot in one of their establishments, and my family is free to do so only as long as I don’t hear about it. (LOL!)

But hey, I should be grateful, right?

That’s true. I am grateful. I’m more grateful to my loving wife for not kicking me to the curb during the lowest point of my whole life up to that point. But not having the burden of a regular job also came at the financial cost of not having a regular job.

About the time unemployment benefits ran out and the whole insane disability application process got rolling, I realized that being broke kinda sucks. Luckily for me I write from home. I hate being around people in general and don’t leave the house unless there’s no other alternative. Funny how no one in their right mind wants to hire me and I’m really, really okay with that fact.

Fast Forward four years and here we are.

It’s wonderful how I can never leave the house and still have plenty of things to talk about here within my own adorable little niche corner of the Internet. I’m glad I held off on the spiritual/self help guru idea that I had back in 2019-2020. I’m still following UFO/UAP, ET Experiencers, and paranormal topics daily; but again I’m not pursuing those interests past learning more about the subjects.

The way things are now I only deal with the people I want to have in my life or want to meet. If you’re in my kinda inner circle, family, tribe, (whatever-we’re-calling-it-today) chances are it’s because I really want you here. I don’t bestow that level of trust lightly since July 2021.

My hobby is one of the few things that keep me going.

Yeah, I know I likely would benefit from therapy. I sure can’t wait to inflict my own brand of weirdness upon the next unsuspecting therapist. If I wasn’t flunking every depression questionnaire the doctor hands me plus I’m already medicated to the nines for depression and anxiety. I wish some of these medical folks would just accept that I’m not meant to function in neurotypical society.

That’s one of the interesting parts of being a tabletop roleplaying gamer. We accept just about everybody. That has not changed since the dawn first broke over the hobby. Almost every gamer I’ve ever known has been just a wee bit different than most people around them. I’ve earned the right to fly my freak flag high at this point and will gladly continue doing so for as long as I’m around. Contrary to what some of these new kids in the hobby might say, we never turned anyone away based on gender, disability, political stance (*except Nazis,) religion, LGBTQIA+ affiliation, neurodiversity, or any other differences you can name. There were just too few of us in those days and chances are if you fit into our gaming group, you fit into our lives elsewhere, too.

Turning my passion for TTRPGs into sort of a job amongst YouTube, this blog, and DriveThruRPG has given me many more reasons to get up every day. I wouldn’t say it’s a “job” so much as a calling. If I wasn’t constantly involved in some aspect of my hobby, what would I be doing? Would I not be miserable doing so? I figured out in early 2022 this is where I belong.

This blog has been my lifeline.

When I did what I would call a rebranding in 2022, after spending over six months laying on the couch playing Fortnite, I decided to blog every single day. I felt like I was checking in even if I was barking in the dark. It gave me something to look forward to every day. Obviously not the same as a cash-paying job and we’re still no closer to monetization now than we were then, but at least it’s something regular. For nearly three years I felt compelled to do it daily even if I didn’t have much to say.

I finally relaxed a little bit on blogging after YouTube began to take off. Now, we still have a long, long way to go on YouTube on multiple fronts. As soon as the kids go back to school or the weather cools off significantly here in Iowa, I will resume creating audio to go with some sort of visuals. I’ve got plenty of video topics I want to cover as soon as I can go without being interrupted. The blog is a lot easier to get around to doing as long as I’m not getting the “Hey Dad!” every ten minutes. It’s gotten better, though.

DriveThruRPG is a different animal. I love publishing on there. I have so many ideas and so little time sometimes. I know I might sound delusional, but I have notebooks filling up with sourcebook ideas, adventures, tables, and all kinds of other things that I haven’t done here yet. There’s always been a disconnect between the blog and the projects. When I hit certain blogging milestones, I plan to change all of that.

I’m still around in one form or another. I’m still creating content for various platforms. Still a good duck. (Yippee!)

I’m my own employer and my own best employee.

As much as I joke about The OG GM being my boss, I’m really only held accountable for my actions here and elsewhere by one guy; me. I write the schedules. I create the deadlines. I revise everything when I have a pain flare, the depression hits like a ton of bricks, or one of the kids comes home sick from school. Hey, I never said I was perfect. Stuff happens. That’s life.

I would gladly accept a bag full of money; a position writing for an established TTRPG company; one of my own works to “go viral;” my entire DriveThruRPG wish list to be cleaned off and on its way to my house; all expense paid trips to conventions to speak on TTRPG related topics; and a private studio to record YouTube videos, but that’s all vision board stuff. Those are what my markers for success right now. I’d be happy for a cup of coffee and a quiet conversation about a game these days. Or just peace and quiet…

As always, more to come. I’m plugging away at several things and staying disconnected from social media (for the most part) has helped with the FOMO and imposter syndrome. I’m getting more done or what I feel are more meaningful things done. This article series might be ending or not depending on how I feel about it a month from now.

There is no adequate substitute for having my time free to pursue the things I want to go after in the way I want to do it. I love and respect you if you’re still in the daily struggle. I get it. Do what you gotta do to get by. But if the opportunity to do what you love and still get paid for it comes around, please say “Yes.”

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

Freedom Day Five Years In.

It’s really been five years since they gave me the boot.

First off, let me start with saying, “no regrets.” Let me be the first to say I don’t miss the corporate grind or the corporate culture in the slightest. I definitely don’t miss four nights on, four nights off rotating while working 12-hour shifts. I certainly don’t miss the management.

As the Weird Al song Amish Paradise says, “I really don’t care, in fact I wish him (them) well
‘Cause I’ll be laughing my head off when he’s (they’re) burning in Hell”

That particular company will always have a spot of disdain and loathing with me for the rest of my life just given the way that last year went. (I still have PTSD from the butt chewings.) I won’t set foot in one of their establishments, and my family is free to do so only as long as I don’t hear about it. (LOL!)

But hey, I should be grateful, right?

That’s true. I am grateful. I’m more grateful to my loving wife for not kicking me to the curb during the lowest point of my whole life up to that point. But not having the burden of a regular job also came at the financial cost of not having a regular job.

About the time unemployment benefits ran out and the whole insane disability application process got rolling, I realized that being broke kinda sucks. Luckily for me I write from home. I hate being around people in general and don’t leave the house unless there’s no other alternative. Funny how no one in their right mind wants to hire me and I’m really, really okay with that fact.

Fast Forward four years and here we are.

It’s wonderful how I can never leave the house and still have plenty of things to talk about here within my own adorable little niche corner of the Internet. I’m glad I held off on the spiritual/self help guru idea that I had back in 2019-2020. I’m still following UFO/UAP, ET Experiencers, and paranormal topics daily; but again I’m not pursuing those interests past learning more about the subjects.

The way things are now I only deal with the people I want to have in my life or want to meet. If you’re in my kinda inner circle, family, tribe, (whatever-we’re-calling-it-today) chances are it’s because I really want you here. I don’t bestow that level of trust lightly since July 2021.

My hobby is one of the few things that keep me going.

Yeah, I know I likely would benefit from therapy. I sure can’t wait to inflict my own brand of weirdness upon the next unsuspecting therapist. If I wasn’t flunking every depression questionnaire the doctor hands me plus I’m already medicated to the nines for depression and anxiety. I wish some of these medical folks would just accept that I’m not meant to function in neurotypical society.

That’s one of the interesting parts of being a tabletop roleplaying gamer. We accept just about everybody. That has not changed since the dawn first broke over the hobby. Almost every gamer I’ve ever known has been just a wee bit different than most people around them. I’ve earned the right to fly my freak flag high at this point and will gladly continue doing so for as long as I’m around. Contrary to what some of these new kids in the hobby might say, we never turned anyone away based on gender, disability, political stance (*except Nazis,) religion, LGBTQIA+ affiliation, neurodiversity, or any other differences you can name. There were just too few of us in those days and chances are if you fit into our gaming group, you fit into our lives elsewhere, too.

Turning my passion for TTRPGs into sort of a job amongst YouTube, this blog, and DriveThruRPG has given me many more reasons to get up every day. I wouldn’t say it’s a “job” so much as a calling. If I wasn’t constantly involved in some aspect of my hobby, what would I be doing? Would I not be miserable doing so? I figured out in early 2022 this is where I belong.

This blog has been my lifeline.

When I did what I would call a rebranding in 2022, after spending over six months laying on the couch playing Fortnite, I decided to blog every single day. I felt like I was checking in even if I was barking in the dark. It gave me something to look forward to every day. Obviously not the same as a cash-paying job and we’re still no closer to monetization now than we were then, but at least it’s something regular. For nearly three years I felt compelled to do it daily even if I didn’t have much to say.

I finally relaxed a little bit on blogging after YouTube began to take off. Now, we still have a long, long way to go on YouTube on multiple fronts. As soon as the kids go back to school or the weather cools off significantly here in Iowa, I will resume creating audio to go with some sort of visuals. I’ve got plenty of video topics I want to cover as soon as I can go without being interrupted. The blog is a lot easier to get around to doing as long as I’m not getting the “Hey Dad!” every ten minutes. It’s gotten better, though.

DriveThruRPG is a different animal. I love publishing on there. I have so many ideas and so little time sometimes. I know I might sound delusional, but I have notebooks filling up with sourcebook ideas, adventures, tables, and all kinds of other things that I haven’t done here yet. There’s always been a disconnect between the blog and the projects. When I hit certain blogging milestones, I plan to change all of that.

I’m still around in one form or another. I’m still creating content for various platforms. Still a good duck. (Yippee!)

I’m my own employer and my own best employee.

As much as I joke about The OG GM being my boss, I’m really only held accountable for my actions here and elsewhere by one guy; me. I write the schedules. I create the deadlines. I revise everything when I have a pain flare, the depression hits like a ton of bricks, or one of the kids comes home sick from school. Hey, I never said I was perfect. Stuff happens. That’s life.

I would gladly accept a bag full of money; a position writing for an established TTRPG company; one of my own works to “go viral;” my entire DriveThruRPG wish list to be cleaned off and on its way to my house; all expense paid trips to conventions to speak on TTRPG related topics; and a private studio to record YouTube videos, but that’s all vision board stuff. Those are what my markers for success right now. I’d be happy for a cup of coffee and a quiet conversation about a game these days. Or just peace and quiet…

As always, more to come. I’m plugging away at several things and staying disconnected from social media (for the most part) has helped with the FOMO and imposter syndrome. I’m getting more done or what I feel are more meaningful things done. This article series might be ending or not depending on how I feel about it a month from now.

There is no adequate substitute for having my time free to pursue the things I want to go after in the way I want to do it. I love and respect you if you’re still in the daily struggle. I get it. Do what you gotta do to get by. But if the opportunity to do what you love and still get paid for it comes around, please say “Yes.”

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

Monday Monster: Coychure

For use with the Dragonbane RPG.

Coychure

Description:
Once someone encounters the Coychure, they can’t unsee it. Some have gone so far as to beg Mentalists to erase it from their minds. This nocturnal predator causes other cryptids to flee at the very sight of it.

It is unclear where this creature originated. Some say it is a demon, others say it was hatched in a mad Archmage’s laboratory. Deep research, as best that can be done by scholars at present, suggests that more than one of these beasts indicate they came from a pocket dimension or subplane. One victim driven mad by the Coychure claimed that it came from a strange puzzle box along with other nightmares.

Its most striking feature are its two mouths, one lupine, the other more human. Its eyes are similar to a bee, set farther back on the skull. It has a body of a coyote, wings like a vulture, warped, distorted limbs similar to vulture talons. The Coychure’s tail is almost reptilian, but also similar to a fish. Its body is covered in a mix of fur, feathers, and scales making its actual body very difficult to identify.

One interesting thing about this monster is that its flesh and even bone dissolves when it is slain, making any sort of identification impossible. Once slain the creature turns to a sizzling puddle of goo withing one Stretch. Contact with the goo deals 1d4 acid damage and burns for one Stretch unless neutralized or washed off.

Resistance:
The Coychure is immune to effects requiring a WIL roll such as Fear or mind control. Also immune to acid and poison. Takes half damage from non-magical fire, cold, slashing, and piercing attacks.

Nimble: Coychure Evades attacks at skill level 14.

Wings: The Coychure may take its movement in the air.
Swimming: The Coychure swims at normal movement speed and can hold its breath underwater for a full Stretch.

Aura of Terror: The first time a creature steps within 10 meters of the Coychure it must make a WIL roll. Failure means a roll on the Fear Table. Creatures who have seen the Coychure before have a Boon to this roll.

Ferocity: 2  Size: Medium
Movement: 12  Armor: 3 Natural HP: 22

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6 Attacks:

1. Existential Dread Howl: Anyone within 30 meters must make a WIL roll with a Bane regardless of having seen the creature. Failure means rolling on the Fear Table.
2. Bite-Bite: One target within 2 meters is bitten twice for 2d4 piercing damage.
3. Swooping Talon Rake: One target within 4 meters is hit for 1d8 slashing damage and is knocked prone at the start of their turn.
4. Gibbering Nonsense: All creatures within 8 meters must make a WIL roll to fend off a psychic attack. Failure means becoming Dazed. If already Dazed, the GM may choose another condition.
5. That Tail: The Coychure flies up into the air slapping one character within 4 meters with an attack that does 1d4 piercing damage and injects a Potency 12 Paralyzing Poison. If armor negates the damage, no poison is delivered.
6. Drag-N-Drop: The Coychure attempts to grab one character or creature (Medium or smaller) and carry it into the air 1d12 meters and in a direction of the GM’s choosing before dropping them for an appropriate amount of fall damage and starting the turn prone. An Opposed STR roll vs a 14 may be made to resist being picked up and dropped early.

Monday Monster: Coychure

For use with the Dragonbane RPG.

Coychure

Description:
Once someone encounters the Coychure, they can’t unsee it. Some have gone so far as to beg Mentalists to erase it from their minds. This nocturnal predator causes other cryptids to flee at the very sight of it.

It is unclear where this creature originated. Some say it is a demon, others say it was hatched in a mad Archmage’s laboratory. Deep research, as best that can be done by scholars at present, suggests that more than one of these beasts indicate they came from a pocket dimension or subplane. One victim driven mad by the Coychure claimed that it came from a strange puzzle box along with other nightmares.

Its most striking feature are its two mouths, one lupine, the other more human. Its eyes are similar to a bee, set farther back on the skull. It has a body of a coyote, wings like a vulture, warped, distorted limbs similar to vulture talons. The Coychure’s tail is almost reptilian, but also similar to a fish. Its body is covered in a mix of fur, feathers, and scales making its actual body very difficult to identify.

One interesting thing about this monster is that its flesh and even bone dissolves when it is slain, making any sort of identification impossible. Once slain the creature turns to a sizzling puddle of goo withing one Stretch. Contact with the goo deals 1d4 acid damage and burns for one Stretch unless neutralized or washed off.

Resistance:
The Coychure is immune to effects requiring a WIL roll such as Fear or mind control. Also immune to acid and poison. Takes half damage from non-magical fire, cold, slashing, and piercing attacks.

Nimble: Coychure Evades attacks at skill level 14.

Wings: The Coychure may take its movement in the air.
Swimming: The Coychure swims at normal movement speed and can hold its breath underwater for a full Stretch.

Aura of Terror: The first time a creature steps within 10 meters of the Coychure it must make a WIL roll. Failure means a roll on the Fear Table. Creatures who have seen the Coychure before have a Boon to this roll.

Ferocity: 2  Size: Medium
Movement: 12  Armor: 3 Natural HP: 22

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6 Attacks:

1. Existential Dread Howl: Anyone within 30 meters must make a WIL roll with a Bane regardless of having seen the creature. Failure means rolling on the Fear Table.
2. Bite-Bite: One target within 2 meters is bitten twice for 2d4 piercing damage.
3. Swooping Talon Rake: One target within 4 meters is hit for 1d8 slashing damage and is knocked prone at the start of their turn.
4. Gibbering Nonsense: All creatures within 8 meters must make a WIL roll to fend off a psychic attack. Failure means becoming Dazed. If already Dazed, the GM may choose another condition.
5. That Tail: The Coychure flies up into the air slapping one character within 4 meters with an attack that does 1d4 piercing damage and injects a Potency 12 Paralyzing Poison. If armor negates the damage, no poison is delivered.
6. Drag-N-Drop: The Coychure attempts to grab one character or creature (Medium or smaller) and carry it into the air 1d12 meters and in a direction of the GM’s choosing before dropping them for an appropriate amount of fall damage and starting the turn prone. An Opposed STR roll vs a 14 may be made to resist being picked up and dropped early.

That Conversation I Don’t Want To Have.

That conversation I never wanted to freakin have.

I’ve been sitting on this article for months. The first draft was well over 3,000 words, and the second draft wasn’t much shorter. Every time I started writing, I got angry, and every time I got angry, the article got longer. Somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t really writing about AI anymore. I was writing about frustration, disappointment, and feeling like I had to defend my existence as a creator.

So let’s try this one more time.

Once upon a time, tabletop roleplaying games were built on newsletters, fanzines, pamphlets, and whatever else people could scrape together. Folks typed things up on typewriters, ran them through photocopiers, stapled them together, and shared them with anyone at the wargaming club willing to read them. The hobby wasn’t built by publishing companies; it was built by enthusiastic weirdos with fantastic ideas.

Fantasy art wasn’t readily available, and layout software didn’t exist. Nobody was arguing about AI because most of us were trying to figure out how to get enough copies made before the local copy shop closed or we got kicked out of the public library (Yes, that really happened.) The important thing was the idea; the adventure, the setting, the monster, the game.

Somewhere along the line, things changed.

Today, fantasy art is everywhere, layout software is available to almost anyone with a computer or a phone, and publishing has never been easier. Yet somehow the barriers to entry feel higher than ever. If you release a product today without art, if your cover isn’t eye-catching, or if your layout isn’t polished, people notice. Art has become an expectation.

I listened to a popular DungeonTuber the other day railing against typos and grammatical errors the other day. The same guy regularly doubles down against AI tools. Do you see where this causes me some cognitive dissonance?

That brings me to the problem.

I have quietly come to loggerheads with people I admire over AI art. I’ve watched creators get absolutely roasted for using it. I’ve watched friendships fracture, and I’ve watched communities divide themselves into camps that seem increasingly unwilling to listen to each other. I’ve mostly kept my mouth shut—not because I don’t have opinions (trust me, I do), but because I knew the moment I opened my mouth someone would assume I was attacking artists.

I’m not. Not even a little.

I think artists should be paid, and I think artists deserve respect. I think artists create things I could never create. I also think reality exists, and reality is where this discussion gets complicated.

I’m a small creator. I’m not running million-dollar crowdfunding campaigns, getting convention appearance fees, or selling tens of thousands of copies of products. I’m a guy trying to make third-party Dragonbane supplements at three in the morning while dealing with chronic pain, depression, family obligations, and whatever fresh disaster life has decided to throw at me this week.

Have you seen what professional fantasy art costs these days? Holy shit.

Good artists deserve every penny they earn. The problem isn’t the artist; the problem is that many small creators simply can’t afford those prices. A custom cover can easily cost hundreds of dollars, and interior artwork can climb into the thousands. That’s before layout, editing, promotion, or anything else enters the equation.

People often tell me to use stock art. Okay. Please show me where I can find stock art for a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex with gorilla arms, vulture wings, and a venomous tail. I’ll wait.

If I need a castle, a mountain, or a goat, stock art is wonderful. If I need a bizarre monster that exists only in the twisted recesses of my brain, the options become a lot more limited. That’s where AI entered my workflow; not because I hate artists, want artists to starve, and not because I’m trying to replace anyone. It’s because AI solved a problem that otherwise had no practical solution.

The choice wasn’t AI art versus commissioned art. The choice was AI art versus no art, and that’s a very different conversation.

There’s another aspect of this discussion that gets overlooked constantly: accessibility.

My friend, The OG GM, has dyslexia and other neurological challenges that can make writing and formatting difficult, which is a well-known fact to his friends, family, and strangers on the Internet. AI helps bridge some of those gaps. Sometimes it helps with spelling, sometimes it helps organize thoughts, and sometimes it helps transform rough ideas into something easier to work with. I help when I can, too. For free because that’s what friends do. Sometimes I wish I could help more.

What I’ve discovered is that a lot of neurodivergent people use AI in similar ways. They use it to reduce decision fatigue, organize schedules, draft emails, answer messages, summarize information, and break overwhelming tasks into manageable pieces. AI doesn’t make ADHD, or Autism disappear. It doesn’t magically solve anxiety, depression, dyslexia, or executive dysfunction. What it can do is remove a few obstacles and reduce a little friction, and for some people, that’s a bigger deal than critics seem willing to acknowledge.

Now before anyone starts sharpening pitchforks, let’s address the obvious concerns.

Some artists are losing work, and that’s real. Some companies are absolutely using AI to cut costs, and that’s real too. Some people are flooding storefronts with low-effort junk generated in five minutes. I’ve seen it, and you’ve seen it. Pretending those things aren’t happening would be dishonest. Likewise, concerns about energy usage and infrastructure deserve discussion. Every major technological shift comes with consequences, and none of those concerns are imaginary.

What frustrates me is the lack of nuance. The conversation often feels like it has only two positions: either AI is the greatest thing ever invented, or AI is destroying creativity forever. Reality rarely works that way. Most people end up somewhere in the middle. Most people aren’t trying to destroy art or artists; they’re simply trying to solve problems using the tools available to them.

The thing that concerns me most isn’t the technology; it’s the growing divide inside the TTRPG hobby. Communities are splitting apart, conventions are debating policies, creators are choosing sides, and people who probably agree on ninety percent of everything else suddenly can’t stand each other because of one issue. That’s sad, especially in a hobby built on imagination and collaboration.

The truth is AI isn’t going away. Search engines use it, Microsoft Word uses it, WordPress uses it, customer service departments use it, and my dentist’s office uses it after hours. Most people interact with AI every day whether they realize it or not. Technology changes, people adapt, and nobody is rushing to bring back eight-track tapes or demanding a return to typewriters. The world keeps moving forward.

That doesn’t mean every technological change is good, but it does mean some of them become permanent. Sewing machines still exist, but they don’t closely resemble the ones from a hundred years ago.

My position is pretty simple.

Creators who want to make everything by hand should absolutely do so. Creators who want to hire artists should absolutely do so. Customers should absolutely support the creators they believe in. I have no interest in telling anyone what tools they should use; I just want the same courtesy in return.

I’ve been in this hobby for decades. I’ve written for small publications, and I’ve watched entire eras of gaming come and go. The one thing I’ve always loved about tabletop roleplaying games is that anyone could create something. Anyone could write an adventure, build a world, invent a monster, and contribute. That spirit is worth protecting.

You don’t have to agree with my choices. You don’t have to like AI, and you don’t have to use it. But I do believe people should be free to create using the tools available to them, especially when those tools help overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent them from creating at all.

At the end of the day, I’d rather spend my time creating worlds than fighting culture wars. The hobby is big enough for all of us, or at least I’d like to believe it is.

That Conversation I Don’t Want To Have.

That conversation I never wanted to freakin have.

I’ve been sitting on this article for months. The first draft was well over 3,000 words, and the second draft wasn’t much shorter. Every time I started writing, I got angry, and every time I got angry, the article got longer. Somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t really writing about AI anymore. I was writing about frustration, disappointment, and feeling like I had to defend my existence as a creator.

So let’s try this one more time.

Once upon a time, tabletop roleplaying games were built on newsletters, fanzines, pamphlets, and whatever else people could scrape together. Folks typed things up on typewriters, ran them through photocopiers, stapled them together, and shared them with anyone at the wargaming club willing to read them. The hobby wasn’t built by publishing companies; it was built by enthusiastic weirdos with fantastic ideas.

Fantasy art wasn’t readily available, and layout software didn’t exist. Nobody was arguing about AI because most of us were trying to figure out how to get enough copies made before the local copy shop closed or we got kicked out of the public library (Yes, that really happened.) The important thing was the idea; the adventure, the setting, the monster, the game.

Somewhere along the line, things changed.

Today, fantasy art is everywhere, layout software is available to almost anyone with a computer or a phone, and publishing has never been easier. Yet somehow the barriers to entry feel higher than ever. If you release a product today without art, if your cover isn’t eye-catching, or if your layout isn’t polished, people notice. Art has become an expectation.

I listened to a popular DungeonTuber the other day railing against typos and grammatical errors the other day. The same guy regularly doubles down against AI tools. Do you see where this causes me some cognitive dissonance?

That brings me to the problem.

I have quietly come to loggerheads with people I admire over AI art. I’ve watched creators get absolutely roasted for using it. I’ve watched friendships fracture, and I’ve watched communities divide themselves into camps that seem increasingly unwilling to listen to each other. I’ve mostly kept my mouth shut—not because I don’t have opinions (trust me, I do), but because I knew the moment I opened my mouth someone would assume I was attacking artists.

I’m not. Not even a little.

I think artists should be paid, and I think artists deserve respect. I think artists create things I could never create. I also think reality exists, and reality is where this discussion gets complicated.

I’m a small creator. I’m not running million-dollar crowdfunding campaigns, getting convention appearance fees, or selling tens of thousands of copies of products. I’m a guy trying to make third-party Dragonbane supplements at three in the morning while dealing with chronic pain, depression, family obligations, and whatever fresh disaster life has decided to throw at me this week.

Have you seen what professional fantasy art costs these days? Holy shit.

Good artists deserve every penny they earn. The problem isn’t the artist; the problem is that many small creators simply can’t afford those prices. A custom cover can easily cost hundreds of dollars, and interior artwork can climb into the thousands. That’s before layout, editing, promotion, or anything else enters the equation.

People often tell me to use stock art. Okay. Please show me where I can find stock art for a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex with gorilla arms, vulture wings, and a venomous tail. I’ll wait.

If I need a castle, a mountain, or a goat, stock art is wonderful. If I need a bizarre monster that exists only in the twisted recesses of my brain, the options become a lot more limited. That’s where AI entered my workflow; not because I hate artists, want artists to starve, and not because I’m trying to replace anyone. It’s because AI solved a problem that otherwise had no practical solution.

The choice wasn’t AI art versus commissioned art. The choice was AI art versus no art, and that’s a very different conversation.

There’s another aspect of this discussion that gets overlooked constantly: accessibility.

My friend, The OG GM, has dyslexia and other neurological challenges that can make writing and formatting difficult, which is a well-known fact to his friends, family, and strangers on the Internet. AI helps bridge some of those gaps. Sometimes it helps with spelling, sometimes it helps organize thoughts, and sometimes it helps transform rough ideas into something easier to work with. I help when I can, too. For free because that’s what friends do. Sometimes I wish I could help more.

What I’ve discovered is that a lot of neurodivergent people use AI in similar ways. They use it to reduce decision fatigue, organize schedules, draft emails, answer messages, summarize information, and break overwhelming tasks into manageable pieces. AI doesn’t make ADHD, or Autism disappear. It doesn’t magically solve anxiety, depression, dyslexia, or executive dysfunction. What it can do is remove a few obstacles and reduce a little friction, and for some people, that’s a bigger deal than critics seem willing to acknowledge.

Now before anyone starts sharpening pitchforks, let’s address the obvious concerns.

Some artists are losing work, and that’s real. Some companies are absolutely using AI to cut costs, and that’s real too. Some people are flooding storefronts with low-effort junk generated in five minutes. I’ve seen it, and you’ve seen it. Pretending those things aren’t happening would be dishonest. Likewise, concerns about energy usage and infrastructure deserve discussion. Every major technological shift comes with consequences, and none of those concerns are imaginary.

What frustrates me is the lack of nuance. The conversation often feels like it has only two positions: either AI is the greatest thing ever invented, or AI is destroying creativity forever. Reality rarely works that way. Most people end up somewhere in the middle. Most people aren’t trying to destroy art or artists; they’re simply trying to solve problems using the tools available to them.

The thing that concerns me most isn’t the technology; it’s the growing divide inside the TTRPG hobby. Communities are splitting apart, conventions are debating policies, creators are choosing sides, and people who probably agree on ninety percent of everything else suddenly can’t stand each other because of one issue. That’s sad, especially in a hobby built on imagination and collaboration.

The truth is AI isn’t going away. Search engines use it, Microsoft Word uses it, WordPress uses it, customer service departments use it, and my dentist’s office uses it after hours. Most people interact with AI every day whether they realize it or not. Technology changes, people adapt, and nobody is rushing to bring back eight-track tapes or demanding a return to typewriters. The world keeps moving forward.

That doesn’t mean every technological change is good, but it does mean some of them become permanent. Sewing machines still exist, but they don’t closely resemble the ones from a hundred years ago.

My position is pretty simple.

Creators who want to make everything by hand should absolutely do so. Creators who want to hire artists should absolutely do so. Customers should absolutely support the creators they believe in. I have no interest in telling anyone what tools they should use; I just want the same courtesy in return.

I’ve been in this hobby for decades. I’ve written for small publications, and I’ve watched entire eras of gaming come and go. The one thing I’ve always loved about tabletop roleplaying games is that anyone could create something. Anyone could write an adventure, build a world, invent a monster, and contribute. That spirit is worth protecting.

You don’t have to agree with my choices. You don’t have to like AI, and you don’t have to use it. But I do believe people should be free to create using the tools available to them, especially when those tools help overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent them from creating at all.

At the end of the day, I’d rather spend my time creating worlds than fighting culture wars. The hobby is big enough for all of us, or at least I’d like to believe it is.

Monday Monster: Gorvult

Compatible with Dragonbane RPG.

Description: A large, black, hairy beast that glides seamlessly between the trees and lands on prey from above. It is the terror of the night in deep forest/jungle areas.

Ferocity: 2             Size: Large
Movement: 12 (Flying) Armor: 2 (Natural)            HP: 36

Has wings, can fly. When flying at night is treated as having 14 Sneaking.

Gorvult Attacks:

D6 Attacks:

1: Big, Big Bite: Inflicts 2d8 piercing damage on one target within 2 meters.

2: Big, Big Crunch: The Gorvult leaps high into the air and comes down with all of its weight on one target inflicting 2d6 bludgeoning damage and knocking the opponent prone on their turn.

3: How Good Is Your Armor? The Gorvult makes excited noises and jumps up and down on one target within 4 meters 1d6 times inflicting 1d6 bludgeoning damage each time. Each bounce counts as a separate attack when parrying. A successful EVADE avoids the attack entirely. One successful bounce leaves the character prone on the start of their turn.

4: Big Wallop! The Gorvult swings both fists together striking up to 2 adjacent characters within 2 meters for 1d8 bludgeoning damage each. Characters struck by the attack are knocked prone until the start of their turn.

5: Thump Thump: Gorvult grabs one character within 2 meters by the ankle and slamming them against the ground 1d4 times for 1d6 bludgeoning damage each time. Armor bonuses do not apply. After the first slam, the character can make a free attempt to wriggle out of the creature’s grasp with an opposed STR roll. (Gorvult has a 16 for purposes of this check.) Characters hit with this attack also suffer the Dazed condition.

6: Snatch and Drop: Gorvult grabs one character within 2 meters with its talons and soars skyward 45 meters before dropping them. Standard falling damage applies.

Monday Monster: Gorvult

Compatible with Dragonbane RPG.

Description: A large, black, hairy beast that glides seamlessly between the trees and lands on prey from above. It is the terror of the night in deep forest/jungle areas.

Ferocity: 2             Size: Large
Movement: 12 (Flying) Armor: 2 (Natural)            HP: 36

Has wings, can fly. When flying at night is treated as having 14 Sneaking.

Gorvult Attacks:

D6 Attacks:

1: Big, Big Bite: Inflicts 2d8 piercing damage on one target within 2 meters.

2: Big, Big Crunch: The Gorvult leaps high into the air and comes down with all of its weight on one target inflicting 2d6 bludgeoning damage and knocking the opponent prone on their turn.

3: How Good Is Your Armor? The Gorvult makes excited noises and jumps up and down on one target within 4 meters 1d6 times inflicting 1d6 bludgeoning damage each time. Each bounce counts as a separate attack when parrying. A successful EVADE avoids the attack entirely. One successful bounce leaves the character prone on the start of their turn.

4: Big Wallop! The Gorvult swings both fists together striking up to 2 adjacent characters within 2 meters for 1d8 bludgeoning damage each. Characters struck by the attack are knocked prone until the start of their turn.

5: Thump Thump: Gorvult grabs one character within 2 meters by the ankle and slamming them against the ground 1d4 times for 1d6 bludgeoning damage each time. Armor bonuses do not apply. After the first slam, the character can make a free attempt to wriggle out of the creature’s grasp with an opposed STR roll. (Gorvult has a 16 for purposes of this check.) Characters hit with this attack also suffer the Dazed condition.

6: Snatch and Drop: Gorvult grabs one character within 2 meters with its talons and soars skyward 45 meters before dropping them. Standard falling damage applies.

Gates of Krystalia: Last Deux Expansion.

Opening Vibe / First Impressions

I’m really thrilled and excited that someone made a Game Master book almost right out of the gate so to speak. For those who might not know, Deux is the term for GM in Gates of Krystalia. It’s also a term to describe the gods of the in-game world as well. This will come into play further on in the book.

What Makes Last Deux Stand Out?

Every good TTRPG needs a solid Game Master section, a whole book being preferable. Last Deux delivers in spades along with great art, monster creation guidelines, and lots of setting lore. Gates of Krystalia is a very rich setting that covers a lot of subgenres in anime/manga. As a bonus, they included solo rules in this tome as well.

Features That Hit Me Right Away:

There are a lot of really nice sections of Last Deux. I think the two that jump out the most are the various worlds because they had me at “Mecha.” The other thing I really liked is the basic how-to-run-the-game section in the first chapter. The setting is rich and the whole book is perfect for TTJRPG Game Masters just starting out. Also, did I mention Mecha?

Who This Supplement Is For:

Obviously, this one is aimed at players in the Deux role for Gates of Krystalia Honestly, I’d recommend this for fantasy GMs, TTRPG GMs, and anyone new to Game Mastering regardless of the system. GMs with a strong anime/manga background would really benefit from this book. Also, someone coming from RIFTS would benefit from giving this book a look.

Closing Thoughts:

I really love this supplement. Much like the rest of GoK, even if I don’t use it for the game it’s written for. Great advice. Lots of good setting construction. I’ll have more on this book at a later date. Please give Gates of Krystalia: Last Deux a look if you get a chance. My DTRPG Affiliate Link for this book.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

Gates of Krystalia: Last Deux Expansion.

Opening Vibe / First Impressions

I’m really thrilled and excited that someone made a Game Master book almost right out of the gate so to speak. For those who might not know, Deux is the term for GM in Gates of Krystalia. It’s also a term to describe the gods of the in-game world as well. This will come into play further on in the book.

What Makes Last Deux Stand Out?

Every good TTRPG needs a solid Game Master section, a whole book being preferable. Last Deux delivers in spades along with great art, monster creation guidelines, and lots of setting lore. Gates of Krystalia is a very rich setting that covers a lot of subgenres in anime/manga. As a bonus, they included solo rules in this tome as well.

Features That Hit Me Right Away:

There are a lot of really nice sections of Last Deux. I think the two that jump out the most are the various worlds because they had me at “Mecha.” The other thing I really liked is the basic how-to-run-the-game section in the first chapter. The setting is rich and the whole book is perfect for TTJRPG Game Masters just starting out. Also, did I mention Mecha?

Who This Supplement Is For:

Obviously, this one is aimed at players in the Deux role for Gates of Krystalia Honestly, I’d recommend this for fantasy GMs, TTRPG GMs, and anyone new to Game Mastering regardless of the system. GMs with a strong anime/manga background would really benefit from this book. Also, someone coming from RIFTS would benefit from giving this book a look.

Closing Thoughts:

I really love this supplement. Much like the rest of GoK, even if I don’t use it for the game it’s written for. Great advice. Lots of good setting construction. I’ll have more on this book at a later date. Please give Gates of Krystalia: Last Deux a look if you get a chance. My DTRPG Affiliate Link for this book.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

Friday Flap: DungeonTubers and New GMs. https://jeffsgamebox.blog/2026/01/30/friday-flap-dungeontubers-and-new-gms/ ##dnd, ##DungeonTube, ##DungeonTuber, ##DungeonTubers, ##rpg, ##rpgblog, ##rpgblogger, ##rpgwriter, ##ttrpg, ##TTRPGblog, ##TTRPGblogger, ##ttrpgwriter, #GameMasterAdvice, #TTRPGInfluencer, #TTRPGYouTubeCreator

Friday Flap: DungeonTubers and New GMs. https://jeffsgamebox.blog/2026/01/30/friday-flap-dungeontubers-and-new-gms/ ##dnd, ##DungeonTube, ##DungeonTuber, ##DungeonTubers, ##rpg, ##rpgblog, ##rpgblogger, ##rpgwriter, ##ttrpg, ##TTRPGblog, ##TTRPGblogger, ##ttrpgwriter, #GameMasterAdvice, #TTRPGInfluencer, #TTRPGYouTubeCreator