Paul Bellow's Blog, page 85

Homebrew Bardic College Background Guide for DND 5e

Hello! I’ve got a great article with a bardic college background (or two) you might not have heard of before. That’s right. I’ve got some homebrew for you all today. I’m not gonna insult you or anything; I’m not just making up a few new bard colleges because I feel like it. NOPE.

I’m doing it because I love Dungeons & Dragons and using my imagination is fun. It’s like acting, but better. This article is for those of you who are interested in playing a bard with a bardic college that is not in...

Critical Fumble Charts for DND 5e (Melee and Ranged)

I’ve got some critical fumble charts for DND 5e, including melee and ranged attacks that miss – by quite a lot.

Critical Fumble Charts for DND 5e (Melee and Ranged)Critical Fumble Chart (Melee)Critical Fumble Chart (Ranged)Critical Fumble Chart (Melee)Missed by a Mile: Your swing goes wide and you stumble 10 ft, opening yourself up for an opportunity attack from your opponent. If you are adjacent to an object, person, or creature, there’s a 10% chance you barrel int...

How to Play DND Like a Veteran Gamer: 12 Tips for New Players

So, you want to know how to play DND so well it’s like you’ve playing for years, huh? Well, I want to show you how! In this article, I will explain how you can make a character, prepare for different types of experiences, and build your own character to fit a specific role.

I’ll also show you the best ways to play D&D, conserve your time, and give you some tricks of the trade to make life a little easier on you. The added benefit is that it will seem like you’ve been playing for years. You’ll...

Best Metal Dice for Dungeons & Dragons Fans

Greetings! If you have a Dungeons & Dragons fan on your shopping list this year, just know that metal dice sets make some of the best gifts for D&D players. Here I will look at best metal dice for D&D fans and give you answers to the questions:

Strap in and read on as we consider the best metal dice for a Dungeons & Dragons gaming fan.

Best Metal Dice for Dungeons & Dragons FansBest Metal Dice for Dungeons & Dragons FansDNDND Metal Dice SetHaxtec Antique Iron Metal Dice...

Elven Name Generator with GPT-3 AI for Elvish Fun

I’ve built an elf name generator that I think you should check out. Using GPT-3 API from OpenAI, I built a that can produce elven names based on Tolkien or other factors. I’ve even got an , for example.

The tool only gives the names for free, but I’ve also built an elven backstory generator that you can used. Also using GPT-3, it generates a few hundred words about your elf character that you can use as a basis to flesh out your D&D characte...

DND Stories: That one time I played D&D with my boss.

Oh, boy. This is the craziest of the DND stories I’ve told so far… possibly. It all started back in college when I was delivering pizzas to make money on the side. I was living with a few friends just off campus in a dilapidated house in the nicer part of town, which we lived for free, because I’m incredibly lucky.

We frequently played Dungeons & Dragons in the basement at that house with Anastasia as the DM. Unlike my DM from my teen years, Anastasia liked combat. A lot. She was a big fan of...

3 Ways RPG Video Games Can Educate You

For years, lovers of games have had to live with all the scrutiny from older generations. Especially if you’re an RPG fan, pouring hours every day into a fantastic story game. People just don’t get it, and they often say you’re wasting your time. Parents will also look at your gaming sessions from the perspective of your education. Why are you wasting time on a game when you should be studying?! 

Well, that last point is very interesting. Obviously, make sure you study and do any homework you...

Best DND Dice Set to Make Friends Jealous

Having the best DND dice set at the table is a great way to win friends, intimidate enemies and impress-wait, I think I’m mixing it up with something else, sorry. This is about DND accessories for a DM and DND accessories for players.

Actually, having the coolest set of dice will definitely get attention and make the other players ask questions, and then before you know it, you’ve got the best DND dice set at the table. And dice-bragging rights. Yes, that’s a thing.

If you can’t find a goo...

DND Stories: That one time I vanquished a fire giant…

I once was in a summer DND campaign where an evil wizard was attempting to take over a city through a combination of magical and military conquest. The locals had managed to put up a good fight for several sessions, but the wizard’s forces were slowly gaining ground. Convinced that the heroes would never be able to make it in time, the city had sent diplomats to one of the surrounding realms to seek aid in the form of mercenaries.

Halfling Cleric of our party…

The party consisted of the usu...

DND Stories: Warrior Heads to Mage’s Tower for Final Showdown…

I’m back again with more DND stories to share. This time, I was playing Elric the Galant, a Cavalier build (basically) who had a rough childhood but was trying to do good. Beyond his backstory, I played him as a kooky guy, who doesn’t take himself too seriously but has a good heart, who sticks up for the weak and tries to make the world a better place.

I think I did a good job of it, because everyone seemed to like my character. One thing I forgot to mention: this was a solo session. Just me ...