📝 How I Prepare for D&D with Obsidian
When it's time to plan my next Dungeons & Dragons session, I fire up Obsidian. But then what? Here's a behind-the-screen look at how I prepare for D&D using...
🎨 Creative Origins
All of the articles and advice we read on running Dungeons & Dragons, while useful, can’t replace what you bring to the game. Your experiences, inspiration,...
🎲 Power of Polyhedrons
In RPGs, dice can transcend the players and game master as the ultimate arbiter and creator of outcomes. Without rolling dice (or insert other resolution...
The Elusive Game
🧌 The Elusive Game We’ve all thought about running the perfect game of Dungeons & Dragons . A game that maximizes everything we desire in a TTRPG and...
Beyond the Plot in D&D
🧙♂️ Beyond the Plot in D&D In a game where the game master only presents plot, much of the value of our hobby is lost. The opportunities for players to...
Books Over AI
📚 Books Over AI At the time of writing, I'm using "AI" to refer to generative AI tools, in particular those that use large language models. When you reach...
🧙♂️ PhD20 Newsletter | Obsidian Edition
Obsidian.md is one of my favorite ways to manage my notes and worldbuilding for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Read to the end for a single page guide...
⏩ Fast Forward
Fast Forward Not every moment in a TTRPG campaign needs the spotlight. Focus in on the moments that matter to you, your players, and your campaign themes....
🔎 Everything is Something
Everything is Something A setting that feels alive encourages enjoyment and even immersion. It aids in the suspension of disbelief that allows us to explore...
🎭 Selling in RPGs
Selling in RPGs Here’s an idea that will level up any game you’re running or playing in: improve roleplay and engagement by selling. As a game master, we’re...
📈 Improving High Level Play
Improving High Level Play High level play is a hot-button topic for 5E as well as previous editions of Dungeons & Dragons. Few groups experience high level...
📜 Make Your Lore Optional
Lore is a tricky beast in tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons. Many game masters learn early on that writing too much lore isn’t the most...
📆 Best of 2023
Best of 2023 Let's take a quick look back at the best of PhD20 in 2023. Organizing Obsidian for D&D This series helps game masters simplify and secure their...
🔖 Organizing Obsidian for D&D | SRD & External Resources
Organizing Obsidian for D&D | SRD & External Resources As your journey with Obsidian continues, your vault grows. You create new information and add...
🧭 Chronicle RPG Adventures with Discord Embeds
Chronicle RPG Adventures with Discord Embeds Discord’s built-in embeds are a great way to chronicle your RPG adventures. Give weight to the moments that...
🧙♂️ TTRPG Creators to Follow
Here's a non-comprehensive list of TTRPG creators that I've found inspiring and/or valuable over the last decade. Questing Beast. Ben has an excellent...
📖 Getting Started with LegendKeeper for D&D
Are you looking for an easy way to build and manage worlds for your Dungeons & Dragons campaign? Look no further than LegendKeeper. “Discover the ultimate...
🌒 The Dark Side of D&D Beyond
D&D Beyond’s tools are great. But they come with some unintended consequences that impact our creativity and play. All that convenience comes with a dark...
🗡️ 4 Ways to Improve Initiative in D&D 5E
4 Ways to Improve Initiative in D&D 5E Crow's Nest by maxprodanov (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) “Roll initiative.” Two of the most exciting words in D&D. Almost always...
🦄 3 Myths About Using Published Settings
3 Myths About Using Published Settings Artwork by Zsolt Kosa from Crown of the Oathbreaker I used to scoff at the idea of using a published setting for my...
