For more than a hundred centuries, the Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne. The master of mankind by the will of the gods. A rotting carcass writhing with power, the Carrion Lord for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day. "The Immortal King" Digital Greyscale

The one time I played OD&D, the sleep spell was an absolute showstopper. Less so now but… agree that planning for it is smart GMing. Part of the reason I like clockwork creatures in adventures is that they are immune to this strategy.

In case you missed it over the holidays, I've released my year-end look at the roleplaying industry in 2025. AI, the Diamond debacle, tariffs, and some positive stuff too!

long-live the one-pager!

I ran @slyflourish.com ‘a Scroll of Akrave last night for a table of new players. It went great! I put the scroll in the crypt’s library and then had a Faerie Spider from @goodegggames.bsky.social “Archibalds Almanac of Adversaries” turn the library into its lair. Good times were had by all!

Our DM @ron88keys.bsky.social makes the players change their name on their Zoom windows to their character name! Having it front and center helps so much.

...by making players draw their characters and write their names on little folding standees, and players can also write the names of the other players' characters on the back of their little standees

RPG tip from the archive: Take breaks every 90 minutes. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Keep character names in front of you during your game. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Kaizen foam with Dungeon tiles can make some really cool 3d elevation for your battle maps. #dnd #ttrpg

Stranger Things Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show: SlyFlourish YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KICtQo3u6A4 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Build characters together and bind them to the core motivation of the campaign during your session zero. #dnd #ttrpg

Build Single-Encounter Situations: SlyFlourish.com https://slyflourish.com/building_situations.html?rss=1 #dnd #ttrpg

Stranger Things Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show: Sly Flourish Podcast https://slyflourish.podbean.com/e/stranger-things-thoughts-%e2%80%93-lazy-rpg-talk-show/ #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Pathfinder flip mats offer great table-usable and re-usable locations you can use for years. #dnd #ttrpg

Get weekly RPG articles and a free adventure generator PDF by subscribing to the Sly Flourish newsletter! https://slyflourish.com/subscribe/ #dnd #ttrpg

Lazy RPG Prep and the Lazy RPG Talk Show: Sly Flourish Twitch Stream https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2660965000 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Join characters together with bonds and relationships. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Draw small maps so players can see what they've explored so far. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: It's easier to convince players to try a new system if you offer it for a handful of sessions. Reduce the commitment. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Improvise combat encounters by what makes sense in the story and then what is the most fun for the game. #dnd #ttrpg

Journey to Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 50: SlyFlourish YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKFXKb_Sz-g #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Print NPC art so players can see who they're talking to. #dnd #ttrpg

Journey to Winter's Love – Dragon Empire Prep Session 50: Sly Flourish Podcast https://slyflourish.podbean.com/e/journey-to-winters-love-%e2%80%93-dragon-empire-prep-session-50/ #dnd #ttrpg

Lazy 5e Crafting Guidelines – Sly Flourish Patreon Podcast: Sly Flourish Patreon Exclusive https://www.patreon.com/posts/lazy-5e-crafting-147179698 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Small three-room dungeons are a fun way to spend an evening. Every dungeon need not be a sprawling megaplex. #dnd #ttrpg

Pick up Lazy DM books and fantastic adventures at the Sly Flourish Bookstore! https://shop.slyflourish.com/ #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Build short one-scene adventures for the end of your session zeros that show off the unique features of your new campaign. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: What makes each location in our adventures fantastic, functions, and familiar? #dnd #ttrpg

Adventure Keys: SlyFlourish.com Article from the Archive https://slyflourish.com/adventure_keys.html #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Keep a list of common divine domains to build your own unique pantheon when needed. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Good towns are all about the details. Name the bar, describe the atmosphere, give it detailed life. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Build a custom faction list based on your campaign. Roll on it to drape items, monuments, locations, NPCs, and encounters with the tapestry of your campaign. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Give characters one to three NPCs to help them understand the city around them. #dnd #ttrpg

Tabletop RPGs 2025 Year in Review – The Lazy RPG Talk Show: SlyFlourish YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nHqHR5hU9I #dnd #ttrpg

Lazy 5e Crafting Guidelines: SlyFlourish.com https://slyflourish.com/lazy_5e_crafting_guidelines.html?rss=1 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Fill in gods, factions, and historical figures in your campaign based on what you need for the characters and the story. #dnd #ttrpg

Tabletop RPGs 2025 Year in Review – The Lazy RPG Talk Show: Sly Flourish Podcast https://slyflourish.podbean.com/e/tabletop-rpgs-2025-year-in-review-%e2%80%93-the-lazy-rpg-talk-show/ #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Instead of having a secret cabal of NPC choose the storyline, put the PCs in the cabal itself! Give them political power. #dnd #ttrpg

Get weekly RPG articles and a free adventure generator PDF by subscribing to the Sly Flourish newsletter! https://slyflourish.com/subscribe/ #dnd #ttrpg

Lazy RPG Prep and the Lazy RPG Talk Show: Sly Flourish Twitch Stream https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2655041807 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: After your session zero, build out three villains for your campaign with their own goal and three quests they're undertaking. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Incorporate in-game holidays to match real-world holidays to give some feeling of seasons into your world. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Give a one page handout for new campaigns with a campaign hook, truths of the world, character drives, house rules, and safety tools. #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Integrate new characters quickly through trust and companionship. Describe the heroic spark in their eyes and get quickly past initial distrust. #dnd #ttrpg

Tower of Horn and Gold – Dragon Empire Prep Session 49: SlyFlourish YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGtO8r2OGh4 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip: Don't overprep for your new campaign. Leave room for the things you learn during your session zero. #dnd #ttrpg

Tower of Horn and Gold – Dragon Empire Prep Session 49: Sly Flourish Podcast https://slyflourish.podbean.com/e/tower-of-horn-and-gold-%e2%80%93-dragon-empire-prep-session-49/ #dnd #ttrpg

Tips and Tools for Timing Sessions – Sly Flourish Patreon Podcast: Sly Flourish Patreon Exclusive https://www.patreon.com/posts/tips-and-tools-146460870 #dnd #ttrpg

RPG tip from the archive: Don't be afraid to reiterate your safety tools mid-adventure or mid-campaign. #dnd #ttrpg