This week I’ve been thinking about how to use survival instincts to bring more realism to combat. You’ve probably tried fight or flight, but what about freeze or fawn? Read more here: buff.ly/M2NPQhg

Optional rule: “You're on mute.” Whenever playing online and any individual attempts to speak while muted in some way, any other player can shout “You're on mute.” The first person to do so gains the power of “Mute”...

After completing my read through of the core rules, I've turned my attention to understanding the DNA of Daggerheart...

As a long time @highrollersdnd.bsky.social fan, I'm really excited for this. There's still time to back, so check it out!

Four simple steps to making one of D&D's most controversial systems feel better at your table: buff.ly/EDikbPU

I like the efficiency of Daggerheart's magic items tables (120 items across 5 pages)… but it does feel a little less special than the layout of D&D's Dungeon Master's Guide, with colour art for most pieces and big text blocks. Which do you prefer?

The Arches of Aoskar, Room 23 The entire room is filled with a scale model of a circus ring, however instead of performers are beautifully painted eggs. At the centre is an Oni in a top hat and red tail coat: "come and enjoy the show!"

To celebrate 10 years of @highrollersdnd.bsky.social I've been looking back on a campaign opener thats stuck with me years. Click the link to read three reasons I loved the start of Aerois.

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Nineteen A large pool has been created in the centre of this room, filled by fresh, rose-scented water from an unknown source that keeps it at an invitingly warm temperature.

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Eighteen A single silver key flutters around the empty room on gossamer wings, it's head representing a dial. If captured, the dial can be set to any room number to instantly access that room. Read more about the Arches here: buff.ly/gyDpfFM

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Seventeen. The room is laid out like a checker board, with each black square filled with a matching iron bound chest. A scroll nailed to the door reads: "Of course, most of these are mimics, but one contains a deck of many things."

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Sixteen. The room is empty except for a large archway made of skulls. Beneath it is chained a large black hound with three glowing red eyes: "I am that which remains, free me and I may guide your path through this maze." - Dungeonary: One room a day for a month

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Fifteen. The room is filled with a pile of broken bricks that block your passage as you realise the ceiling has collapsed. There is just enough gap above the pile to see dim torchlight the other side and the sound of an old man gently crying:

This fantastic tool from DnD Shorts Will Earl deserves a place in any great DM's arsenal...

An inky purple void swirls in the centre of the room. --- Anyone who touches the void disappears for 2D4 minutes and returns with no memory of the experience, but is covered in a light dusting of ash containing flecks of burnt parchment.

You enter a well furnished dormitory, with comfortable beds on offer. In a small kitchen area, large mugs magically fill with relaxing hot chocolate. --- The room is cursed, every 59 minutes a klaxon sounds interrupting all resting creatures.

Round tables and comfortable chairs are overlooked by a sleek bar bearing steaming equipment. Every available chair is taken by relaxing halflings, while a team of gnome baristas make and serve coffee. Whats on the specials board - and what magical effect does it have?

As you enter the room you see an Iron Golem, it's body shaped to resemble a masked and robed mage, a wand in its hand. Its torso is hollow, to create a locked cage containing an exhausted Kobold. Find the stat block below: The Arches of Aoskar, Room Ten - Dungeonary: One room a day for a month

Illustrations cover the walls around a comfortable looking chair next to a desk filled with tattooing equipment. A Marilith smiles at you, each of her hands holding a needle: "want to get inked?"

Nine cages are placed facing each other in a circle, each containing a Kobold. They introduce themselves in turn: Barek, Direk, Eerek, Gorek, Irek, Jorek, Keyrek, Morek and Trek - and claim they have the key to the exit door which they will exchange for their freedom.

On a dirty floor, an infernal summoning circle has been drawn in chalk and bone. The remains of five candles long since burnt out surround a scorched skeleton. Sulphurous footsteps lead through a smudged rune to the exit door. The Arches of Aoskar, Room Six - Dungeonary: One room a day for a month

Slick ice coats coats every surface of this room, where carcasses frozen solid hang from huge meat hooks in the ceiling. A dull repetitive thudding sound comes from a bare chested frost giant who is using one of the carcasses as a punching bag. He looks at you and says: "You want to be a contender?"

A Bugbear in a kaftan is surrounded by 20 goblins sat on small beanbags. She clears her throat, clearly irritated by your interruption: "Welcome to Sickie 101, where through the power of improvisation we will learn how to avoid at least one, maybe even two, days of work.

Dungeonary: One room a day for a month. The Arches of Aoskar, Room Four. Thick cobwebs coat every surface of this room, including a number of comfortable benches and a large barbers chair. An Ettercap in a brown leather apron waves a cut throat razor towards the empty chair.

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Three. This room is empty except for a large stone pedestal in the middle that holds a brass rod shaped like a key. As you watch bony hands begin to claw out from the ground.

Dungeonary: One room a day for a month. The Arches of Aoskar, Room Two. The arch is crammed with laboratory equipment, but a few pieces grab your attention.

Dungeonary: One room a day for a month. The Arches of Aoskar, Room One. The room is a 60ft square, with an arching brick lined ceiling that is 20ft high and curves down to the ground on the east and west side. The North and South walls are flat, both with a single wooden double door in the middle.

Is having to reorganise your DVDs to accommodate the newbies the worst or best part of Christmas?

Okay, so we are fighting our figgy pudding with this sword. What is it's name and what power does it gift you?

Tonight I'm reflavouring an adventure for Christmas, but I'd appreciate some help from Bluesky! I have: Troll = Krampus Goats = Reindeer Violet Fungus = Mini Xmas trees? Stirges = Rabid fairies/Elves?? Gray Ooze = ???!

Discovered a delivery driver locked in his van today. Couldn't help but think: “This is a great encounter hook”.

Very excited to finally get my hands on Monsters of Drakkenheim from @dungeondudes.bsky.social and @ghostfiregaming.bsky.social , although I have to say, I'm blown away by the add ons! I'm pretty sure these might be my new favourite dice...

I bought some £5 foam board, some cheap paints and made some stuff I'm really proud of. Take a look at the gallery to see all the parts of my ruined castles set. This isn't a how-to, but I hope it shows what a beginner can achieve!

My players loved The Red Rooster and it's landlord, Posy... so they were devastated when it got crushed by a black dragon. This is how I created it: buff.ly/foDH7Bp

A random generator is fine, but there is a simple solution for coming up with a tavern your players will never forget. buff.ly/foDH7Bp

A little surprised to see @criticalrole.bsky.social pop up in the middle of the evening news...

All seven parts of this series are now available. I've had some lovely comments from people who have picked the couple that interested them, or enjoyed the entire journey. Links inside to explore!

Tonight on D&D: The party discover the dangers of robbing a werewolf den while the pack are out hunting… and then leaving a trail back to their camp.

The first radio presenter I ever worked with carried a battered old ring binder into every show. He never opened it on air, so after a year of working together I asked what it was for: “My song and dance routine,” he said with a smile. Today, how that one piece of advice changed how I DM:

This simple tool has transformed my game prep. Make sure your adventures always feel balanced and varied by using the colour wheel. This is part four in the series, but stands alone as a piece of advice.

Movable Keys and Quantum Ogres can offer you the most flexible adventures you've ever created. Today I'm talking about how understanding these mechanics is crucial to writing one shots. This is part 3 in the series, but does stand alone, or you can start at the beginning by following the links:

Why learning to built a fort can help improve your one shots... This is part two in the series, but you can enjoy it on its own or the follow the links inside to start at the beginning!

Trying something a bit different this week, a seven part guide published daily.

I was pleased with how quickly the group solved this one. Although fans of a certain video game get a big head start!

This is my first ever attempt at crafting terrain. Here's how it came together: buff.ly/Lrz4i9J

"Perhaps down the road, counting gold will go the way of ammunition and encumbrance - embraced by those who love realism, but forgotten about at most tables." More here: buff.ly/OHjyYQl

The nice man from Amazon customer service assures me my copy of Daggerheart will be dispatched in 24 hours. Seems unlikely, but he was far too polite for me to call him a liar to his face…

Finally got a dispatch notice for my Daggerheart back order. Looking forward to finally getting a look for myself.

I walked down the ruins of a Roman High Street today. You wonder if they ever imagined it could all end one day.

In last night's game, my party earned the services of an animated armour they quickly named Arthur. I did a funny voice for Arthur and chose a mini for him. I will now let every party member die before Arthur comes to any harm.