Droskar’s Crucible from the Pathfinder adventure Crown of the Kobold King, brought to life by Greg Rava our dungeon-themed map assets and some cardstock.
Category: Articles
Useful articles for Game Masters of all skill levels, including basic how-to guides and imaginative encounter write-ups.
Greybanner, Part 3: The Greybanner Region
Mountains, rocky plains, and a blighted forest surround Greybanner. What dangers and adventures might your players find as they explore?
Encounter with the Wildfire Elemental
An encounter with a king-sized fire elemental not for the faint-of-heart or the low-of-level! Battle maps and fire assets also available.
Greybanner, Part 2: Locations in Town
Hundreds flock to Greybanner in preparation for the Grand Tournament. Once open streets are quickly populated by stalls and carts, and merchants’ voices begin to fill the air. The outskirts of town see camps and caravans arrive. Hopeful warriors share glances of anticipation as they size up their competition. The residents of the town move […]
BananaDealer’s Pathfinder Steampunk Airships – The Dealership
Three airship maps – with thoroughly detailed Pathfinder stats for each – plus three steampunk weapon assets fit to destroy them, courtesy of BananaDealer.
Greybanner, Part 1: The History and People
A guide to the town of Greybanner, its history, and council. Who will your party befriend, and who will become their enemy?
How to Run a Cave Adventure
Our cave encounters are done but we’re not in the clear yet! Running the connective moments and making full use of the environment is just as important for a cave adventure as the encounters themselves. Every terrain is unique and should have its own challenges and atmosphere. Caves, in particular, allow us to inject claustrophobia […]
10 More Underground Encounters
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 […]
10 Cave Encounters
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 […]
How to Run Kobolds
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.
10 Kobold Encounters
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 […]
How to Run Goblins
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 […]
10 Goblin Encounters
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 […]
How to Run a Jungle Adventure
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 […]
10 More Jungle Encounters
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 […]
10 Encounters in the Jungle
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.
How to Run a Desert Adventure
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 […]
10 More Desert Encounters
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 […]
10 Encounters in the Desert
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 […]
How to Run a Horror Adventure
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, […]
How to Run a Snow Adventure
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 More Scary 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
10 horror encounters to frighten to hardiest of tabletop players. Embrace Halloween and spook your players with dreadful monsters and mysteries.
How to Run an Island Adventure
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!
How to Run an Ocean Adventure
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, […]
10 More Winter Encounters
Ten (more) winter encounters with which to challenge your players. The snow and cold offer a harsh opponent, so make the most of them!
10 Snow Encounters
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 […]
How To Design a Town
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.
The Banahogg – A Hag Encounter
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 – d20 Swamp Encounters
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 […]
The Banahogg – A Swamp Adventure
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 […]
A Haunted Mansion Encounter with a Mimic Twist
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 […]
1d20 Island Encounters
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 […]
10 More Island Encounters
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 […]
10 Island Encounters
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 […]
A Ghost Encounter with a Goblin Twist
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 […]
1d20 Encounters at Sea
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 […]
10 More Ocean Encounters
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 […]
10 Encounters At Sea
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 […]
How To Build Your Own Ship Map
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!
