CHAINMAIL: 09.01.2023

How Good Players Play In A Sandbox Campaign - Grumpy Wizard

For me, sandbox-style campaigns capture exactly what I want in a long-form TTRPG game. It's an embodiment of everything that makes TTRPGs unique. The majority of the advice I offer on this platform is focused on ways DMs can improve their skills. While I stand by the idea that we should always be striving to better ourselves and our expertise, the players do have a responsibility to understand what the game requires of them to fully enjoy the sandbox playstyle. Check out this blog post by the Grumpy Wizard and send it to your players. That way you all are on the same page regarding what to expect during gameplay and can best enjoy the flow.

Using Locks in your D&D or OSR game - Ranger Lemure

This is a new channel I've never heard of before, but after this video, I will definitely be checking out more of their stuff. This is a thorough analysis of locks both from a realism perspective and how that can translate to your games. Locks are notorious for turning into boring skill check loops with very little creative or intelligent problem-solving. Change that up with the knowledge learned from this video!

Actual Dungeon Mastering: How to Design Dungeons

I do not know who authored this collection of dungeon design advice. I found it over on The Glatisant: Issue #43 by the Questing Beast without an author note so they may have written it themselves. Regardless, THANK YOU. This is an academic dive into OSR dungeon design, collecting information on all sorts of different advice and design styles together to create a 23-page tool. This style of resource may be a turn-off for some. It's very much a study of the styles, with a scholarly tone as opposed to a more lighthearted fantasy take. This is entirely my type of resource though so I am going to study it intensely.

I hope these resources inspire you! If you haven't already, the best way to stay up to date with everything hothead related is to join the discord. See you next week!