Today is #FreeBSD day, and I think the best thing I can say is it makes computing fun again. My favorite part of learning computers was the sense of exploration and potential. A computer/OS was a landscape to explore, make discoveries of what it could do, how it worked, then what I could achieve./1

I've divorced yet another big tech service. After years with Github, I'm now self-hosting Forgejo. I'm so pleased to be rid of another connection to Microsoft.

Modern computers are mostly pretty boring, so I'm tapping into the glory of the 1970s minicomputer. This is a PiDP-11, powered by a #RaspberryPi but running an accurate simulation of the PDP-11/70. It's currently running 2.11 #BSD #retrocomputing #unix

Share a great male villain.

I never noticed that the halfling on Jeff Dee's cover art on The Village of Hommelet is wearing bell bottoms. At least not until Professor DM pointed it out on today's new video. Halflings wearing bell bottoms is now part of my head canon. #DnD #OSR #TTRPG

In a world where tech giants are constantly gathering your information and trying to sell you something on every available surface, I find my peace using a 14 year old netbook running #OpenBSD without a GUI. I now get most of my creative work done in this private, distraction free environment.

Merry Christmas from our excited kitteh Ridley to all of the new friends and acquaintences here on Bluesky.

This was a fun Christmas gift. My wife is supporting my BECMI #DnD fixation, though she's one of the players, so the way I see it, it's a gift for her too. Right? I'm really looking forward to running these adventures.

I have added to my BECMI #DnD collection once again. I got PDFs of all the BECMI books, but I really missed having an actual book in my hand, so the local hobby shop gave me a good deal. The Expert book is very well used, but that's ok. I just needed the book.

WotC could have an entire market by cranking out Mystara as its own separate 80/90s anime themed fantasy setting, but noo...

I use the Lazy DM Session Prep method. I prepare for the most likely scenes, dungeon sections or adventuring areas, a list of NPCs, secrets and rumors, and one or two maps that have all needed info, such as enemy stats, treasure, secrets, tricks or traps, similar to Professor DM.

After a few weeks away, I'm finally back behind the #DnD DM screen. Tonight will be our first session with full BECMI rules. The players will enter the dangerous Orc Lair of cave B. You can see my one page dungeon prep sheet that has everything I need. I technically don't need the module book.

The Duchy of Karameikos in the Mystara setting is roughly the same size and similar shape of the state of Ohio. Lawrence Schick & Tom Moldvay were college students in Ohio at the time they started developing what would become Mystara. Coincidence? What say the historians? @bruceheard.bsky.social?

Expanded Dungeon Stocking Table Coming Along! This uses *both* d6s used for Room Stocking in B/X (that Treasure one is often wasted!) Referencing a lot of my other Tables and providing *prompts* as an Inspiration Tool. I can already see a few more d100s I might need to whip up! 😅

So, #TTRPG folks, tell me about your dice. -Just grab a few random sets and go? -Only one or two sets used for everything? -A set for GM and a set for being a player? -Do you have the same dice since the before times? -Dice addict? -Fancy materials or simple is better? How do you roll?

My wife and son made me the coolest birthday dinner this evening. Everything is from the Hero's Feast #DnD cookbook: Castle Amber Onion Soup, Gurdats, Dragon Salmon, Black Pudding and Elven bread.

When I'm not DM, I'm usually a player in my friend's 2e adventures. I'm Cialech. A former soldier who survived a hanging. Sick of everyone's shite, and ready to find some treasure and find a good place to retire.

I've been looking forward to this one. I admit I have a tendency to use a lot of tropes for NPCs, and they could be a lot more interesting. I think this book by @caspi.bsky.social will be a big help.

BBEG: NO! MY DEATH TOWER! Cleric: You are defeated! Yield, and we will spare you! BBEG: Ok. Cleric: Wait, what? BBEG: Yeah, I don't want to die. Bard: Want to grab some lunch? I know a gnomish place that has great soup. BBEG: Sure, my schedule just cleared up. #DnD #TTRPG

FWIW #TTRPG #DND #D&D #BECMI #OSR www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImgF...

Can you describe your #TTRPG character/NPC without mentioning: -character class -race -equipment used -spells known

In case you missed it, here's an article I published yesterday about the differences between characters and adventurers in Dungeons and Dragons. #dnd #ttrpg

A question for the #BECMI DMs out there: I currently have the five boxed set books, the RC, most of the #Mystara Gazetteers, Book of Marvelous Magic, Shady Dragon Inn, Creature Catalog, and several adventure modules. Any other old school/ #OSR resources that I should know about?

You don't have to figure out a solution to everything your players face. Create conflicts and problems, and let them figure it out. Good players are an inventive bunch. Also, like so many others in this thread, create situations, not plots.

I love adding rival adventuring parties to campaigns, and I love ktreys d100 tables. So this is a perfect list for what those rivals may be up to.

A question for the 2e #DnD scholars: my wife and I each have our own copy of the PHB, same 1989 printing with the Jeff Easley cover. This is the exact same page number, but each shows a different ability for the same "Set Snares" NWP. Which is correct? Anyone else ever notice this?

I expanded the #BECMI collection today with the Book of Marvelous Magic (items). There are so many fun magic items in here that are not all +1 weapons or stored spells, that could be used very creatively. And of course more wonderful cover art by Clyde Caldwell.

If you see this, post a #TTRPG cover that you love.

I love using festivals, holidays and birthdays in games! They're perfect for being introduced to a new town or region, and a great background for significant events. One of my players once got to celebrate his birthday in game in King Arthur's Court. This is a great article on the topic.

On TTRPGs as "storytelling": 4 of the 5 main elements of a story are Setting, Characters, Conflict, and Plot. Most DMs are heavily involved in the first 3. Postulate: The degree to which the DM is involved with a pre determined Plot is the difference between story telling & story as a side effect 🧵

This year, I'm thankful for all of the creative, artistic and inspiring new people I've met here on Bluesky. A few I know from other platforms, but most are completely new to me. A few are names whose works I've known for a long time and had the pleasure of meeting here. It has been rejuvenating.

Exactly. I actually warn my players up front: I rarely balance encounters, and fighting to the death may not be the best way to handle it. Lie, bribe, sneak, bargain, flee, or even surrender. Conversely, not all enemies will want to fight to the death either by using morale checks.

This was a really good read with some great ideas for improving character death. I think the Boromir Rule would work pretty nicely with the death at 0hp of BECMI rules. You still die at 0, but it's going to be heroic and memorable.

Map of "The Known World" osrgrimoire.blogspot.com/2024/11/map-... #theknownworld #becmi #becmidnd #dungeonsanddragons #dnd #ttrpgs #oldschoolrenaissance #osr

Looking for opinions. As many of you know, I'm fully embracing the world of Mystara for my current gaming groups. However, none of them know of Aleena and Bargle. GAZ1 mentions the possibility that the DM may not include the events of the Basic adventure. What should I do? (continued in reply)

Here's a #DnD debate. Are kobolds reptiles or dogs? In my world they are both! Inspired by this very debate, I think of them as bipedal therocephalians (see image), which are an evolutionary bridge between reptiles and mammals. Bonus: there's evidence that some of them may have been venemous.

I care. Mine is Deinonychus, the feathered raptor. Just something about that connection between birds and raptors is fascinating. And terrifying. Whats your favorite dinosaur?

Ooh, my DTRPG order was delivered! The Creature Catalog and four more Gazetteers. I don't have a problem. I know what I'm doing. I can quit any time I want. The #Mystara setting is absolutely engrossing.

I added something fun to the collection today. Blackmoor is technically the ancient past of #Mystara, so it even contributes to my recent enthusiasm for the setting. And thanks to @alexkammer.bsky.social for clearing up a misunderstanding that prevented me from picking it up.

I'm seeing good discussion about linear story telling vs railroading in #TTRPG. I'm still gathering thoughts, but I do have a question that these threads prompted: Are there really GMs out there just dropping players into a world with absolutely no adventure hooks and just asking "What do you do?"

The BECMI Mystara feed is up and working now. Have a look. bsky.app/profile/did:... #TTRPG #OSR #DnD #D&D

This is absolutely brilliant and I can't believe I haven't thought of it. I am undoubtedly going to be doing this at some point.

The opinions of people commonly using the #DnD #BECMI Rules Cyclopedia describe it as the best #TTRPG #OSR game rules compilation on the market since the early 80s. This reference work compiles players and DM books, monster manual, and campaign set in one book. www.dmsguild.com/product/1717...

One of the shortcomings of the PoD copies of the #Mystara Gazetteers is the lack of large foldout maps. They're on separate pages, so are less useful. Today I had printed one of the excellent recreations available on mystara.thorf.co.uk. This will eventually grace the wall of my Creative Space.

Question for the #BECMI and #Mystara scholars out there: what is the best official resource on Fiends and Immortals of the Sphere of Entropy? Vaults of Pandius has a terrific Codex Immortalis, but I'm curious about the published sources. Was it just scattered among lots of books?

~TTRPG Edition~ Currently Playing - Knave 2e/ #BECMI (DM) - AD&D 2e (player) Currently Reading - The #Mystara Gazetteers Current Projects - Building a DM Creation Room - Retro-fitting Keep on the Borderlands into Karameikos -Fleshing out Jean Wells' original Palace of the Silver Princess

PSA: You want to run BECMI or AD&D but your players groan about THAC0? Convert THAC0 to attack bonus by subtracting THAC0 from 20 (for AD&D, 19 for BECMI) and convert descending armor class to ascending armor class by subtracting it from 20 (for AD&D or 19 for BECMI). Your players will never know 😁

Look what arrived in the mail today. My POD copies of Gazetteers 1 and 3. I'm diving headlong into #Mystara as my new go-to setting for #DnD adventures. If you aren't familiar, this rich and detailed setting is well worth your consideration, and the Gazetteers are incredibly well done.

Daily DM Tip: involve your players in world building! Pull cities and regions from their backstories, work WITH them to come up with lore that fleshes out the world lore too! Creating your world does not have to be all on your shoulders! By including the players it becomes their world too!

Do not dunk. Do not quote-post. Do not screenshot and repost. They wish to be visibly cruel because it makes them feel big and strong. Block them with the most powerful block button we've had on social media to save yourself the energy, and save others from the garage being spread