“You have been traveling together for a while now, exploring the mountains, caves, and forests of Moineir. You’ve done good deeds at every village you’ve visited– whether it’s protecting townsfolk and their farms from wild beasts, or fending off bandits and thieves. Today, you find yourself in the middle of a new adventure…”
Far from being an activity reserved for shy, reclusive folk, Dungeons and Dragons (or D&D) is a way for anyone, regardless of age or background, to invigorate the imagination and create a tale of adventure with friends! You can tell any kind of story you like: fantasy, science-fiction, horror, post-apocalypse…your only limitations are the boundaries of your own imagination!
In addition to providing hours (and I do mean hours) of fun and excitement, D&D has proven to have numerous positive effects on psychological health, as well as interpersonal and intrapersonal skills development. These pages will showcase some of these examples, experiences from games I have played or DMed, the joys of worldbuilding, and finally some fun workshop ideas for children and their families!
Now…who’s ready to roll some dice? Check out the posts below for inspiration!
Adventures for the Family: What I learned from DMing for Children
D&D Workshops: Creating Immersive Descriptions…Even if you Don’t Read Fantasy
Workshop Notes: Old Books Smell Weird
Workshop Notes: It’s All About Perspective
Workshop Notes: Passing the DM Screen
Four Tips for Writing Family-Friendly Adventures
Tools of the Trade
Workshop Notes: How to Avoid Metagaming
Roll Initiative: Building Encounters for Kids
Lore Drop: Less is More
Worldbuilding for a Family Campaign
Workshop Notes: Theater of the Mind
5 Things To Remember When Crafting RPG Story Hooks
Heroes of Iyastera: Group One Introductions
Scriv’s Scribbler’s Character Sheets
Heroes of Iyastera: Group Two Introductions
Sing No More: A Sneak Peek
Welcome to Iyastera
More Than Fantasy: Going Beyond Genres
Off the Tracks: Preserving Player Agency in a Timed Adventure
D&D Workshops: Activities for Young Players
D&D for Kids: Personal Growth
Worldbuilding: Thinking About Cultures
D&D Note-Taking Tips
Worldbuilding: Culture and Language
Campaign Diaries: A Strange Sickness
D&D for Kids: Roll for Loot
D&D for Kids: Alignment
Worldbuilding: “By the Gods!”
D&D for Kids: Game to Grow
Getting Into Character: Role Playing Tips
Factions of Iyastera: The Shabaka
House Rules
Game Mechanics: Character Growth and Social Engagement
Balancing Act: Campaign Prep
Factions of Iyastera: Guards, Knights, and Mercenaries
D&D for Kids: Character Building
D&D for Kids: Party Animals
Scriv-tival 2019!
Worldbuilding: Top-Down or Bottom-Up
Bridget Boulderfall
Awarding Experience
Campaign Prep Guidelines
Worldbuilding: Local Customs
Boss Fight
Homebrewed: One Shot Quick-Build
Welcome to Iyastera: The Rebels
Community Creation: Jawri the Ranger
The Pick-Up Game
Animal Companions: Training Mechanics
Iyasteran Winter Traditions
Lore Drop: The Red Queen
