Hey There, Cthulhu! Building The Immersion and The Horror in Your TTRPGs

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

Stranger Things of Thrones: 7 Tips to Running an Inspired Horror Mash-up D&D Game!

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

Help! Our Best Tips For When the Forever DM Becomes the Player

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

3WD: DM Zen – The Calm Between the Rolls

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

Master of Puppets – What To Do When The DM Has To Control A Player Character

Possession. Dominate. Alignment shifts. There are a multitude of times where the rules make the DM take control of one of the player characters in the game. But, is that a good thing? In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down to discuss an issue that came up in DM Chris’ Tales of the … Read more

Is ‘Top Secret: New World Order’ Worth the Hype? DM Tony’s Review Tells All!

Greetings gamers from all systems, places and timelines! For DM Dave’s birthday game (which, yes, is one of our trademarks), we broke out the Top Secret: New World Order system. We took on the role of a spy on their first mission, just like any other 1st-level party. But instead of trying to clear out … Read more

Unlock Your Inner Spy: Dive Into Top Secret’s Espionage RPG Adventure!

Top Secret: New World Order. That’s right, for DM Dave’s Birthday Game (of which we are quickly becoming well-versed), DM Chris ran our gaming group through the update to the TSR classic espionage RPG, Top Secret from TSR, Inc. by Merle Rasmussen. In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down to review the system, … Read more

Your Virtual DM: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Enjoy Solo TTRPGs

Artificial Intelligence is a polarizing topic these days. From Skynet-style flights of fancy to the very real implications for content creators, it’s an evolving technology that isn’t going away anytime soon. But free from worrying about profiting off of others’ work, using AI at the game table can help provide you with a set of … Read more

Transforming Your D&D Campaign: Shifting from the Railroad to the Sandbox

Back in September of 2022, I wrote an article that asked the question, “Does what you’re currently running still feel fresh and fun? Are your players as invested in it as they were in the beginning? Does something feel missing? Are you burning out?” In it, I discussed how we had transitioned in the all-girl’s … Read more

We Built This City: Tools, Tips, and Tricks on Increasing Immersion in Your D&D Game

Terrain. Maps. Minis. Music. Handouts. TTRPGs aren’t movies and television and we can’t rely on moving pictures to help immerse our players, so what are some ways that you can help the imagination Build This City in your players’ minds? In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave sit down to revisit our discussion with The … Read more