Worldbuilding. It’s one of the most talked about aspects of running TTRPGs, as it is the sandbox into which you will throw your party to adventure in. We’ve talked about tips and tricks in past episodes and articles, and have come down on both sides of the debate surrounding how much to do with a … Read more
Greetings gamers from all systems, places, and timelines! I’ve been running games for over three decades now, and my favorite campaign of all time, ironically, is my current one. Not because my table is filled with rule or dramatic roleplay experts. Actually, quite the opposite, as two of the players had never played a TTRPG … Read more
Movies. TV series. Books. Other DMs running games. There are a multitude of sources that provide fodder for our imagination in developing cool ideas that we want to play with in our own games. But how many ideas are TOO MANY ideas? Can you have too many ideas? In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave … Read more
One of the most rewarding experiences as a DM is watching the players at your table roleplay their way through the world you’ve created. Whether they’re laughing over a campfire, arguing over strategy, or carefully stepping into a haunted ruin, the joy of TTRPGs like D&D lies in the shared storytelling. It’s the players interacting with the world through their characters – and that’s where the magic happens.
Our last episode was the preamble. Last week’s article discussed some of what we learned from playing with new people. But, in this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down with the newest addition to our gaming group, Elizabeth, to delve deep into what went into running the Call of Cthulhu one-shot, playing with brand … Read more
An artist friend of mine often remarked, “People ask me how I paint really good bricks. I tell them to go home and paint one thousand bricks.” Like it is for all disciplines and hobbies, mastery comes from repetition. But, repetition by itself is not enough, especially in collaborative hobbies, like TTRPGs, tabletop wargaming, and … Read more
Backstory. Character development. It’s one of the most discussed topics in the TTRPG space. And the 3 Wise DMs were faced with the question when a friend offered to run a Call of Cthulhu one-shot for our group. This was followed by a Google Doc with twenty in-depth questions as to the character’s background, motivations, … Read more
Greetings gamers from all systems, places, and timelines! As some of you may be aware, we at 3WD appreciate one-shot adventures and player birthday games. To which, we just completed a horror-style adventure in honor of a birthday in my all-girls campaign, which was inspired by Game of Thrones and Stranger Things – two of the … Read more
You’ve been the DM for a long time (maybe even Forever!) and one of your players has finally said those magic words: “I think I wanna run a game.” So, with all your wisdom, all your experience, all your skills – how do you help the new DM along in the game so that they … Read more
Greetings, 3WD-verse! DM Chris here. One of the cornerstones of DMing is preparation. In many ways, you’re the tour guide for your players in the campaign world, so you need an understanding deep enough that you can help them learn and discover it. You’re more than just a narrator – you’re the weaver of possibilities, … Read more
