Paul Bellow's Blog, page 11

Hollow Warden Ranger Subclass in Dungeons & Dragons 2025 Unearthed Arcana

A chill wind is blowing through the ever-evolving tomes of Dungeons & Dragons, and in its spectral draft comes an Unearthed Arcana that’s sure to haunt home tables for years to come. Scheduled to creep into public playtesting in May 2025, the ...

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Beyond Owls and Cats: Unique Familiars to Deepen Your D&D Character’s Lore

There’s something quietly mesmerizing about the bond between a spellcaster and their familiar. To outsiders, these arcane companions might seem like little more than magical pets, summoned for utility and soon forgotten. But seasoned roleplayers and shrewd Dungeon Masters know the truth: ...

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Ultimate Guide to Turning Downtime into Storytelling Gold in Your D&D Campaign

Downtime: the elusive narrative air between the clangor of swords and the hush of eldritch forests. Too often, Dungeon Masters and players alike confine their stories to the thunderous rhythm of battles and the press of quests. Yet, hidden in those quieter ...

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100 Villain Motivations for DMs Who Need Enemies With Real Goals

Think back to the RPG villains who have haunted your campaign notes—or your players’ nightmares—long after the dice stopped rolling. What set them apart from the parade of generic baddies encountered on the road? It’s not just power or cruelty. The truly ...

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How to Improvise When Your Dungeons & Dragons Players Abandon the Plot Mid-Session

The shriek of a thrown plan echoes through every DM’s soul at least once a session. You’ve spent hours crafting intricate encounters, fleshing out atmospheric backdrops, and foreshadowing devastating plot twists—only for your adventurers to interrogate the barmaid you named in passing, ...

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100 Chaotic Side Effects of Wild Magic Potions

There are potions, and then there are wild magic potions—a breed apart in the alchemical zoo. Unlike their reliable, sensible cousins—the sort of potions that knit wounds, banish fatigue, or slip you unseen past castle guards—the wild ones are recipes scrawled in ...

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8 Practical Tips for Balancing Combat and Roleplay in Every Dungeons & Dragons Session

In every corner of the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse, a quiet struggle simmers beneath the clash of swords and the whispered secrets of darkened taverns: the art of balancing combat and roleplay. Dungeon Masters everywhere know this tension—the pressure to deliver satisfying, ...

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Dwarf Mining Clan Names: Legendary Surnames Inspired by Stone, Gold, and the Deep Earth

Dwarven culture, hewn from stone and steeped in untold millennia, is a tapestry of family, fortunes, and the deep-earth mysteries that pulse beneath mountain roots. Among its most revered traditions are the names borne by dwarven mining clans—each a title forged of ...

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D&D 2025 Class and Subclass Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Building the Perfect Character

Dungeons & Dragons is as much about crafting a hero as it is about rolling dice or delving dungeons. At the heart of every character’s journey are the 13 core classes, each a distinct template shaping not only abilities and powers, but ...

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How to Use Backstory Generators to Create Deep D&D Rivalries and Unbreakable Alliances

In the intricate dance of Dungeons & Dragons storytelling, every character arrives at the table with secrets, scars, and dreams stitched into their soul—real or imagined. These hidden histories, particularly the ones entangled with rivalries and alliances, can ignite a campaign with ...

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