I’m a size tiny sprite witch.
Our party is in the fifth straight hour of battling cultists in a dungeon.
I’m low on spells.
Enemy mage casts a spell.
I roll spellcraft and recognize what the spell is. It will make ice spikes rise from the ground and impale all creatures in its radius.
Myself and our damage tank (Ji-Gon) are within the spell’s radius. We’re both dangerously low on hit points.
I knew the spell required a reflex save. Take no damage on save. Full damage on failure.
I spend a hero point to act out of turn, interrupting the mage’s action for one action of my own.
I need to get us both out of the spell’s radius. I’m a 12-inch tall sprite. Ji-Gon is a size large giant in full armor. I can’t dive tackle him and get us both out.
My reflex save is better than his.
I spend my action and cast a telekinesis spell, pushing him out of the spell’s area of effect.
The spell goes off.
I grit my teeth and roll my reflex save.
I have decent saves but bonuses for my size and high dex.
I roll a 3.
That’s not good enough.
A pillar of spike impales me, pinning me to the ceiling of the cave.
Massive damage, around 20 points into the negatives.
RIP.
Ji-Gon lived, slaying that mage a few turns later.
The other mage used spell slots each day to preserve my body so they could bury me at home after they completed the quest.
It was a beautiful death. It was a sad death. It was an epic moment in the story.
#DnDcember 3: Favorite NPC
First, you hear him. The clanging of thick metal armor shifts with each forceful step. The only sound louder than his steps is the “breathing.” Rhythmic and horrid, it’s a noise like strips of moist jerky rattling within a throat. Continue reading “#DnDcember 3: Favorite NPC”
#DNDecember 1: Favorite Race
Most of the sprite/fairy playable races I’ve seen are homebrew. The problem with most of them is how unbalanced they are. Some have greater invisibility at will, perfect flight, and a host of powerful magical abilities that offer no drawbacks.
In Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, spryte is a playable race, and the balance and flavor of it is close to perfect. Continue reading “#DNDecember 1: Favorite Race”
Steal My Idea: 3 Alternate Effects from the Undead
Steal My Idea: Side Quest: One Missing, Five Found
Steal My Idea: Side Quest: The Ring of Exponential Value
Continue reading “Steal My Idea: Side Quest: The Ring of Exponential Value”
Steal My Idea: Two Encounters and a Trap Your Players Won’t See Coming
I’m not including stats for these traps and encounters. They are ideas you can use in basically any system and any level, so shape them according to your group.
Continue reading “Steal My Idea: Two Encounters and a Trap Your Players Won’t See Coming”
Steal My Idea: 3 Level One Characters Ideas You Might Not Have Tried (Amnesia Is Not One of Them)
Steal My Idea: Too Much Table Talk? Ideas to Encourage Role-Playing and Staying in Character
Steal My Idea: 3 Curses Your Players Won’t Expect

When playing a tabletop RPG, especially one with a familiar system or world, it can be hard to surprise your players. Many people know what a mind flayer does or how barbarian rage works or what a basilisk’s gaze will do to your complexion. I love creating new content to throw my players off. Curses, I’ve found, are a great way to add some misfortune and ratchet up the tension by introducing something they didn’t expect and cannot necessarily predict. Continue reading “Steal My Idea: 3 Curses Your Players Won’t Expect”