Blog of Many Words

Hear ye, hear ye! Welcome, fair traveler, to this blogspot, whereupon you shall be enlightened, ensorcelled, and endowed with great wisdom by heeding our counsel.

D&D 5e's Skills (Part 1): What's the DC for Open Heart Surgery?

Helpful NPC Thom

May 8
3 min

D&D 5e's Skills (Part 1): What's the DC for Open Heart Surgery?

Hello, Helpful NPC Thom here, and I'm going to talk about how to make 5e's skill system work for you, but first let's talk about the DC...

4 views

Helpful NPC Ryan

Mar 24
2 min

Are Traps out of Touch?

Helpful NPC Thom says: No, it's the children who are wrong. One of my friends was recently discussing Elden Ring with me (which I’ve not...

5 views

Helpful NPC Thom

Nov 3, 2021
6 min

On the Virtues of Railroading

Choo-choo! That's the Dragonlance module leaving the station. Prepare yourself for a one-way ride in the land of Krynn as you watch Tanis...

5 views

Helpful NPC Thom

Oct 18, 2021
6 min

Respect My (GM) Authoritah

This title blatantly stolen from a thread filled with contentious commentary on this issue. What are my thoughts on the matter (as it...

3 views

Ten Things I Fate About You: Aspects and Codifying Best Practices

Helpful NPCs

Oct 13, 2021
7 min

Ten Things I Fate About You: Aspects and Codifying Best Practices

Helpful NPC Thom back again to talk about the Fate RPG. Today's topic: Aspects. It turns out that you, as an excellent GM, have been...

21 views

Arguing About Hitpoints Three Thousand Years Later

Helpful NPCs

Oct 9, 2021
2 min

Arguing About Hitpoints Three Thousand Years Later

I was there, Gandalf. I was present and accounted for during more than one of the pointless and boring bickerfests about what hit points...

3 views

"Failing Forward" For Dummies (That's You)

Helpful NPC Thom

Aug 25, 2021
5 min

"Failing Forward" For Dummies (That's You)

Fightin' words, I know, and I'm ready to bring the hammer. Straight out of the gate: fail forward is a big dumb meme that half of all...

2 views

Call of Cthulhu Stinks For Running Call of Cthulhu

Helpful NPC Thom

Aug 21, 2021
8 min

Call of Cthulhu Stinks For Running Call of Cthulhu

Call of Cthulhu isn't well-designed to support its own genre.

4 views

Helpful NPCs

Jul 20, 2021
8 min

Slaying the 16 HP Dragon

A critique of Dungeon World mechanics.

58 views