W. F. Smith 7/16/25 W. F. Smith 7/16/25

Lego Rock Raiders as Space Horror

You are stranded on a hostile planet, but fortunately its subterranean tunnels are rich with the fuel you need to get back home. Less fortunately the tunnels are also home to hulking monsters that can break into your ship and drink its fuel.

W. F. Smith 1/14/25 W. F. Smith 1/14/25

Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa

The medusa is a cool monster that was the victim of TSR’s honeypot encounter design like so many other female-coded monsters. A close reading of woman monsters in Keep on the Borderlands, White Plume Mountain, and Numenera.

W. F. Smith 10/26/24 W. F. Smith 10/26/24

Being a Vampire Doesn't Suck

The world is a vampire, set to drai-ai-ai-ain, and now so can your player character! A complete guide to playing a vampire, including unique vampire powers and weaknesses and a random table of vampire-hunters.

W. F. Smith 10/22/24 W. F. Smith 10/22/24

Playing as a Ghost

Rules for and commentary on playing as a temporary ghost character after a player character meets their bitter end in the dungeon.

W. F. Smith 6/25/24 W. F. Smith 6/25/24

Endangered in Dungeons

Oops, you hunted the random encounter to extinction. What comes next?

W. F. Smith 8/14/23 W. F. Smith 8/14/23

Social Monsters

Monsters should be more than just a threat in the dungeon to your player characters’ physical health and wellbeing. Here is how to make a monster a threat to their reputation in town.

W. F. Smith 4/1/23 W. F. Smith 4/1/23

Of Mysteries, Monsters and Mosquitillos

I reveal a new monster from the origins of the hobby. This monster languished while its siblings, like the Owlbear and Rust Monster, are being featured in major motion pictures. Life is unfair sometimes.