A shifting of stone freezes the adventuring party. They cluster together, backs pressed and eyes scanning for any signs of movement. But the cavern extends far beyond their light. They flinch and twitch at the sounds of scratching beyond the darkness, waiting for whatever might leap out. Clawed footsteps skitter in circles around them. And […]
The shadows pressed down like weighted yokes, filled with the dusty age of untouched caverns. Thick, damp air clouded the party’s lungs as they clung to the light of their torches. Their eyes flashed across the cave walls, mistaking shadows and rock formations for all manner of monsters. But they could not hope to see […]
Everything you could need to know for running kobolds in and out of combat. Dig some tunnels, rig some traps, and then throw your party in the deep end.
A distant skittering echoes through the cave. Small, clawed footsteps guide the travelers as they move deeper, huddled in the temperamental light of a single torch. The creatures they were pursuing were encouragingly small and nonthreatening. Their confidence dropped like stones in their stomachs when the skittering turned to chuckles. The snap of a breaking […]
An arrow flies out of a nearby bush, surprising the group’s navigator and bringing him to his knees. A barrage follows before the travelers can move to react. Some manage to raise their shields or catch the projectiles in their armor, but not all are so lucky. They push their backs together, wildly scanning the […]
Trees and shrubs surround the party as they travel, imprisoning them in forest walls. The odd chirp or rustling sees the travelers pivoting to respond, their weapons drawn. But, despite their anxiety, nothing attacks. They travel on, slowly growing comfortable with the nearby movement. Darkening skies force them to make camp in a clearing, setting […]
Somewhere below the adventurer’s foot, a breaking crunch is heard. Crouching down to brush some mossy soil aside reveals a skull, bleached white and weaved with vines. It is, or was, human. Marks are etched into the surface, likely from multiple scavenger beasts taking advantage of a free meal. What originally killed the man, they […]
Miles of tangled plants stretch in every direction. Moisture fills the thick air. Every sound, every rustled leaf or rippled pond, could be another threat, camouflaged but watching. The jungle itself is hunting them. But the party must press on. They must face whatever lurks after them. They must survive. As our jungle map releases […]
Spiders, plants, leeches, and undead all await your players. Our first 10 jungle encounters are perfect for learning how to challenge and engage your party.
Adventurers make their way into the deserts every few months, covered in armor and hefting weapons along with them. They prepare and study and strategize for the monsters they might face. But few understand the true danger. The beasts and bandits, for all their wrath, pale in comparison to the land they inhabit. Vicious heat […]
Dry lips. Red, burning skin. Eyes straining against the waves of blinding heat. The desert drains the strength of those courageous or foolish enough to cross it. Even without the monsters they had faced, the adventurers would still be struggling for survival. The sands stretch on before them, dunes forming the horizon. How much further […]
The sands burn like fire, whipped up by swirling winds. Each day, the dunes shift and change into what could be mistaken for a new landscape. This place, these deserts, seem to possess a hunger for those that brave their blistering fields. One must survive both the heat of the sun and the dangers that […]
Night descends, enveloping the small town in creeping shadows. The party looks out from the safety of their inn room. They know the kinds of monsters that lurk in the dark and the many ways to face them, and the time for that will come. Before they can destroy the horrors, they must first research, […]
Snowy tundras weave between mountains and forests, blanketing the landscape in a petrifying cold. Many creatures and obstacles litter the area. Adventurers must be ready for what might find them, as well as the dangers of the snow itself. The cold creeps through clothing and camps, aching bones and draining energy. Even outside of encounters, […]
10 scary, Halloween-themed encounters for your next tabletop gaming session. Killer birds, monstrous fish, and murderous old ladies await your players.
10 horror encounters to frighten to hardiest of tabletop players. Embrace Halloween and spook your players with dreadful monsters and mysteries.
Is your campaign taking to the seas, and you want inspiration on how to populate them? Enjoy our encounter charts, maps, and assets – a perfect start!
The party climbs aboard and takes to their posts. Sails lower, the ship lurches against the waves, and the horizon soon swallows the last glimpses of land. An ocean adventure awaits. Many dangers and disturbances await them, but their travel is not a series of progressive events. Many of their days are quiet and uneventful, […]
Ten (more) winter encounters with which to challenge your players. The snow and cold offer a harsh opponent, so make the most of them!
Snowy tundras stretch on in blanketing white. Mountains and valleys are masked by snow and ice, burying what once was. All manner of secrets might lie below the frost. But for the party to discover them, they must first survive the dangers in the cold. The third in our series of d20 Encounter Charts, we […]
Most tabletop adventures begin in a humble town in the countryside. But how do you design a town? We break down the process in this detailed guide.
At the center of the Banahogg is a single, larger ritual site. Monoliths hold the few prisoners still alive, waiting their turn to join the other sacrifices. A Green Hag stands over the altar, conducting the ceremony with an ancient speech. Her sisters lurk unseen. The intruding adventurers have little time until the hags succeed. […]
The Banahogg is a dangerous and horrific place. A necrotic curse hangs in the air and hags have filled the land with monstrous, artificial creations. Somewhere in the center, the coven is preparing their final ritual. The party must stop them, but what terrors will they have to encounter on the way? As the second […]
A shanty town lies on the edge of the Banahogg swamp, an ancient and profane land. The village of Myrrholm is not fond of or accustomed to visitors, but it now requires help. A curse has spread from the Banahogg, causing people to fall ill and silent. At night, they are lured away in their […]
All residents and workers have evacuated from Lord Billory’s manor. They flee from the ghosts inside, terrified of the voices and sounds in the night. The party is the most recent group hired to exorcise the threat, entering carefully with only stories and hearsay to guide them. Sounds shift in the floors above, objects seem […]
Here we have the master list of our combined 10 Island Encounters and 10 More Island Encounters. Below you will find the titles of all 20 encounters, for simpler navigation or use at the table. Clicking each one will take you straight to their detailed writeup in the respective article. Land ho, sailors! What secrets […]
The party has faced all manner of dangers, from living islands to volcanic ruins. They might believe the worst and strangest is behind them, but the oceans are far from done! Uncharted islands lay in wait, holding all manner of threatening oddities. Welcome to the second part of our Island Encounters d20 Chart. As with […]
The open ocean is home to many dangers, and adventurers often find themselves desperately seeking refuge on land. But many islands hold their own mysterious hazards and secrets, and the party is now headed right for them. Following on from our Ocean Encounters d20 Chart and the release of Ghosts of Saltmarsh, we are expanding […]
The ruins of an outpost sit abandoned on a hill. They might be an ideal place for travelers and caravans to rest for a night, but stories of ghosts and supernatural fog grow more common by the day. The party now finds themselves at these ruins, and the midnight moon brings with it a blanket […]
Welcome to the master list for the 10 Encounters At Sea and 10 More Ocean Encounters lists. Following is an abbreviated list of all 20 encounters, which is a little more convenient for use at the table. Just click the items on the list to go to the expanded write-ups. Loose the mainsails and take […]
The party’s journey continues across the world’s oceans. They have faced monsters both above and below the surface, and even contended with enchanted weather. But they are not done yet, and further dangers await! Below you will find the expanded encounter descriptions for the second half of our Ocean Encounters d20 Chart. They should contain […]
Your party now sails the seas, whether as hired crew or captaining their own ship, and encounters await them! Maybe you’re preparing to use our Ocean Encounters d20 Chart, after inspiration to run Ghosts of Saltmarsh, or crafting your own campaign. To help you along, here are some expanded explanations for the encounters featured in […]
In this short and punchy guide I will show you, step by step, how to build your own ship map like the one below. I recorded the process (you will see snippets below) and it took me only eight minutes on my first attempt. And if I can do it, so can you!
I have been a world builder for as long as I can remember. I wrote stories as a kid, dreamt of creating monstrously huge video games alone as a teenager, and always, always drew. Nothing much came of it though, as none of these things quite clicked with me.
There is not much of a role-playing presence in my corner of Australia, but fate introduced me to the game during a trip to Canada in 2013. All of a sudden I had a way to bring these worlds to life with the skills I had, and overnight I became a fledgling game master and map artist.
Hi, I'm Ross, the aspiring artist behind these maps!
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