“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
