by Pentaclebreaker

I have to distinguish between two types:

Novells that have created a world that was later made into an RPG and novells that are set in an existing RPG.

The first has several with some very good reads. Like Randall Garrett's (and later Michael Kurland's) alternative world with several stories featuring Lord Darcy and Sean O'Lochlainn. Their world being low to middle fantasy at best. But it gives much "everyday" setting that make them very suitable for an RPG.

The second feature novells by Gygax himself, like the ones on Magister Setneh Inhetep, who is a very sophisticated wizard priest. Even more well of than Lord Darcy, he dabbles in all kinds of investigations concerning the highest ranks of his world. High fantasy at its best (or worst) with magic power flying around all day long 😉.

I would recommend both, while Gygax definitely wrote the books with the idea to promote his new RPG Dangerous Journeys.

And sorry, I favour crime novells over pure sword & sorcery 😉 just my taste.

Ciao

Martin

by Dutys_Fist

Hard to say - I would lean towards making this creature more difficult, just because of the Immobile passive, which seems like a real weakness, and means if the encounter proves to hard, the PCs can always run away, unless one gets trapped of course.

How many PCs are your working with? How many have darkvision, and which PCs are they?

by Forbidding

by gaaloechild

An item RPG Designer: Reiner Knizia has been added to the geeklist Ranking abstract strategy designers using datamining, h-index and Avg rating

by gaaloechild

An item RPG Designer: Eric Solomon has been added to the geeklist The objective bi-monthly ranking list of abstract game designers

by Zumbar

Related Item: Nimble Core Rules

Justin is such an amazing artist!

A new episode has been added to the database: 2.7 - I'm Very Good At My Job

A new episode has been added to the database: Blood Lords 118 - We Walk the Spiral

A new episode has been added to the database: Episode 152 - Signs Of Survivors (Fallout RPG)

by Bifford [White Hare Games] (Sam)

The Thursday Thing aims to highlight contests and other interesting things on RPG Geek.
Please Geekmail me suggestions and In My Own Words articles.


On Simplicity & Shortness
by [username=Bifford]Bifford[/username]

Some times all you need is something simple to have fun. The one-shot game (see session report below) I ran for my group was immensley fun and will likely turn into more one-shots at later dates. The Clerk & Dagger core book comes with a number of scenarios, each harder than the last, so this is entirely possible.

Now that isn't to say that longer campaigns are not fun, but any time I or one of my group run quick, simple, short games, the fun seems to be of a totally different variety. The "fun" of a longer scenario comes from settling into your character, expanding who they are and their place in the group plus working out all the details of the scenario and getting things right. The fun for shorter games, like a DCC scenario, a Fiasco playset, a Monster-of-the-Week or Blades in the Dark delve, seems to be more "fun-in-the-moment" where you know you can take risks and do something funny because if the character isn't there next time it's no big deal. The game doesn't continue and making a new character is easy enough to not get in the way.

That does not mean everything should be short and simple. That can get quite tiresome if it is all you play. You kind of need a longer, more in depth game to balance out the short and simple. It helps you to appreciate both sides of the coin.

The 24hr RPG contest has just started (see directly below this). Why don't you try making a short & simple game, something to fill gaps in game play when a GM is away, between scenarios, or for when you all need a break from longer stuff. Maybe even a convention game - good for complete strangers to come together for a few hours yet build good memories.


24hr RPG contest is on! Start your timer, getting writing, you've 24hrs to think of a fantastic game!
2026 RPG Geek 24 hour RPG contest is open for entries until Monday, July 6, 2026


I initially thought this was a dungeon with 100 doors and you had to catch find them all! Not quite, it seems.
The Short Version? 100 Doors to Find in a Dungeon provides the GM with a lot of unique options for their next dungeoncrawl.


I had a thoroughly grand time running this, and writing it up. Joinme in the fun! :)
Having a Bloody Good Heist is always worth it!


Every day there's a new Question of the Day. Most of them are game-related but once in a while we get one that'a more geek-related like favorite movies or books. The question changes every day and you can even suggest a QOTD. When you check out this week's Question of the Week, you can see a link to all the old questions and the chance to suggest a question of your own. Here's this week's QOTD:
QOTD MAY 24: What's the most memorable magical ritual from one of your games?


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by aramis

Only JT showed.
We played boardgames.

by Serpentine_C

An item RPG Item: Report 22:01:08 has been added to the geeklist 2026 Annual Geek Session Report Challenge