Woefully Encysted Creature
@forlornencystment.bsky.social
West Philadelphia. TTRPG blogger at forlornencystment.blogspot.com.
pine nuts on top. very jiggy.
pine nuts on top. very jiggy.
I really powered through the rest of B1: In Search of the Unknown! Read the final part of my play by play below. 👇
Area XXXIV is the armory. For some reason there's a torch-extinguishing trap (?) here. There are also some (mostly useless) weapons & two locked chests with nothing in them.
November 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I really powered through the rest of B1: In Search of the Unknown! Read the final part of my play by play below. 👇
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
So how did law and order work in Medieval England? And can we bring that into D&D? I decided to take a look and found the first thing is that almost no one would tolerate 75% PC foolishness: icastlight.blogspot.com/2025/11/law-...
LAW, ORDER, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Gameable Suggestions from English Medieval Law
Its not *always* trial by combat... How law and order work in medieval societies can be used to enhance our pseudo-medieval fantasy games ...
icastlight.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
So how did law and order work in Medieval England? And can we bring that into D&D? I decided to take a look and found the first thing is that almost no one would tolerate 75% PC foolishness: icastlight.blogspot.com/2025/11/law-...
Continuing my readthrough of B1: In Search of the Unknown over here 👇
Area XXIX is ERIG's chamber. Erig is Rogahn's friend & captain of the guard at Quasqueton. There's not much going on here, just a really cool door decoration & some minor treasures. Personally I think it would be cool if Erig & Rogahn were in love.
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Continuing my readthrough of B1: In Search of the Unknown over here 👇
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
Here to help with a Hundred to get you started: blog.d4caltrops.com/2023/12/d100...
d100 - What Works Are On That Bookshelf?
O ne bit of Set Dressing that I often find myself scrambling to embellish are Bookshelves. I will place them frequently but am often at a ...
blog.d4caltrops.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Here to help with a Hundred to get you started: blog.d4caltrops.com/2023/12/d100...
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
So true! A severed wizard’s head sits in a corner, if you grab it:
1. Screams as you pick it up, roll an encounter
2. Babbles incoherently, loyalty check hirelings
3. Attempts to cast charm person on you
4. Listen for a turn, maybe some info
5. Will teach 1 🪄 (1st)
6. Will cast 2 2nd lvl 🪄
1. Screams as you pick it up, roll an encounter
2. Babbles incoherently, loyalty check hirelings
3. Attempts to cast charm person on you
4. Listen for a turn, maybe some info
5. Will teach 1 🪄 (1st)
6. Will cast 2 2nd lvl 🪄
November 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
So true! A severed wizard’s head sits in a corner, if you grab it:
1. Screams as you pick it up, roll an encounter
2. Babbles incoherently, loyalty check hirelings
3. Attempts to cast charm person on you
4. Listen for a turn, maybe some info
5. Will teach 1 🪄 (1st)
6. Will cast 2 2nd lvl 🪄
1. Screams as you pick it up, roll an encounter
2. Babbles incoherently, loyalty check hirelings
3. Attempts to cast charm person on you
4. Listen for a turn, maybe some info
5. Will teach 1 🪄 (1st)
6. Will cast 2 2nd lvl 🪄
Oh btw I’ll be at PAXU Friday Saturday & Sunday. If you see a guy with gout talking about AD&D or B1 that guy is me.
November 20, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Oh btw I’ll be at PAXU Friday Saturday & Sunday. If you see a guy with gout talking about AD&D or B1 that guy is me.
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
We loved this room so much back in the day! It was a massive time waster as you mention, but Curious Players are always going to want to open every last one to see what's inside. A few ended up being used as Tools later in the Dungeon sometimes to solve problems, so not a *total waste*
My Tribute:
My Tribute:
Random Impedimenta (d100) - Single Page Vertical Version
I've whipped up an updated version of the d100 Random Impedimenta Table . This one is a single page and arranged vertically for easy printin...
blog.d4caltrops.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
We loved this room so much back in the day! It was a massive time waster as you mention, but Curious Players are always going to want to open every last one to see what's inside. A few ended up being used as Tools later in the Dungeon sometimes to solve problems, so not a *total waste*
My Tribute:
My Tribute:
I'm continuing my readthrough of B1 here! Finally getting into the meat of the dungeon & figuring out what's all in there.
I love how much detail is put into this scene of the aftermath of a battle between adventurers & berserker guards - the fighter's sword "sheared off abut eight inches above the pommel", the magic-user impaled on the wall covering the carving of the stronghold's name (dramatic reveal!). Chef's kiss!
November 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I'm continuing my readthrough of B1 here! Finally getting into the meat of the dungeon & figuring out what's all in there.
I'm starting a little readthrough of Dungeon Module B1: In Search of the Unknown! Not a terribly original idea, but I'm interested in finally digging into some of these classic TSR modules to see for myself what they have to offer. I'd really like to pick one of these up to run in a low-effort game.
November 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I'm starting a little readthrough of Dungeon Module B1: In Search of the Unknown! Not a terribly original idea, but I'm interested in finally digging into some of these classic TSR modules to see for myself what they have to offer. I'd really like to pick one of these up to run in a low-effort game.
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
something i’ve always found somewhat whimsical about od&d is that due to how the encounter tables are set up, there is basically always a minimum 12.5% chance you run into a werewolf (well, lycanthropes generally).
November 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
something i’ve always found somewhat whimsical about od&d is that due to how the encounter tables are set up, there is basically always a minimum 12.5% chance you run into a werewolf (well, lycanthropes generally).
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
Okay, this is a rad article. Last time I ran a campaign, I presented the main city as a big, nasty, Lankhmar-type place, but (mostly) ended up playing it as pretty safe and reasonable. This gives me some stuff to think about.
I decided it would be beneficial to collect my findings over the past few months with regard to AD&D towns & cities into one "master" post. I came up with a list of four themes that characterize these environments which the DM might keep in mind when running adventures there:
The Implied Setting of AD&D Towns & Cities: Four Themes
This is a topic I've been dancing around a lot for the past few months. As my observations have accumulated, I've begun to feel that it woul...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Okay, this is a rad article. Last time I ran a campaign, I presented the main city as a big, nasty, Lankhmar-type place, but (mostly) ended up playing it as pretty safe and reasonable. This gives me some stuff to think about.
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
This is a very thoughtful analysis of towns in AD&D, but applicable to just about any rpg.
I decided it would be beneficial to collect my findings over the past few months with regard to AD&D towns & cities into one "master" post. I came up with a list of four themes that characterize these environments which the DM might keep in mind when running adventures there:
The Implied Setting of AD&D Towns & Cities: Four Themes
This is a topic I've been dancing around a lot for the past few months. As my observations have accumulated, I've begun to feel that it woul...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This is a very thoughtful analysis of towns in AD&D, but applicable to just about any rpg.
I decided it would be beneficial to collect my findings over the past few months with regard to AD&D towns & cities into one "master" post. I came up with a list of four themes that characterize these environments which the DM might keep in mind when running adventures there:
The Implied Setting of AD&D Towns & Cities: Four Themes
This is a topic I've been dancing around a lot for the past few months. As my observations have accumulated, I've begun to feel that it woul...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I decided it would be beneficial to collect my findings over the past few months with regard to AD&D towns & cities into one "master" post. I came up with a list of four themes that characterize these environments which the DM might keep in mind when running adventures there:
I dug through AD&D to find out: where are all the high-level NPCs? I talk about why it's an important question to ask & do some number crunching using an average AD&D city & some demographic figures I made up. It's better than nothing!
Where are AD&D's High-Level NPCs?
This is a question I've pondered quite a bit in my exploration of AD&D. Theoretically, my assumption would be that there's nothing to restri...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I dug through AD&D to find out: where are all the high-level NPCs? I talk about why it's an important question to ask & do some number crunching using an average AD&D city & some demographic figures I made up. It's better than nothing!
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
New Carouse, Carouse!
This time featuring, among other things, me writing about Over/Under, AI in games (not like that) from Patchwork Paladin, a review of Gorman's Larder by @giantrobottackler.bsky.social and a selection of blog posts, as always!
www.carouse.blog/november-202...
This time featuring, among other things, me writing about Over/Under, AI in games (not like that) from Patchwork Paladin, a review of Gorman's Larder by @giantrobottackler.bsky.social and a selection of blog posts, as always!
www.carouse.blog/november-202...
November 2025 - Jacked In
We're approaching the end of the year, and the northern hemisphere is getting properly gray and wet now (the perfect weather to stay in and play RPGs). Perhaps the southern contingent will play outsid...
www.carouse.blog
November 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
New Carouse, Carouse!
This time featuring, among other things, me writing about Over/Under, AI in games (not like that) from Patchwork Paladin, a review of Gorman's Larder by @giantrobottackler.bsky.social and a selection of blog posts, as always!
www.carouse.blog/november-202...
This time featuring, among other things, me writing about Over/Under, AI in games (not like that) from Patchwork Paladin, a review of Gorman's Larder by @giantrobottackler.bsky.social and a selection of blog posts, as always!
www.carouse.blog/november-202...
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
I enjoy Halloween! I blog about it somewhat frequently so have eight (8) blogposts that are appropriately spooky for you to enjoy on this Hallows Eve. I shall collect them here for you #osr
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
Do the Monster Mashup — Prismatic Wasteland
I mashup several classic Halloween monsters to create ten new spooky monsters, and discuss how I would use them in games.
www.prismaticwasteland.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I enjoy Halloween! I blog about it somewhat frequently so have eight (8) blogposts that are appropriately spooky for you to enjoy on this Hallows Eve. I shall collect them here for you #osr
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
An unsophisticated collection of Special Rooms for your #osr #dungeons.
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2025/10/thin...
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2025/10/thin...
Thinking about Special Rooms (Notes made during Meetings)
A rough and ready palimpsest of Special dungeon rooms for OSR games.
foreignplanets.blogspot.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:43 PM
An unsophisticated collection of Special Rooms for your #osr #dungeons.
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2025/10/thin...
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2025/10/thin...
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
For this year’s spooky season post, I dig up the background of Skeletons, how they’ve been historically depicted in media (including D&D) and my favorite way to include them in my games
#osr #ttrpg
#osr #ttrpg
Bare Bones Survey of Skeletons — Prismatic Wasteland
Embracing the silly origins of skeletons and why it makes them one of the more refreshing undead horrors to use in your games.
www.prismaticwasteland.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I wrote about the weird "Establishing the Character" example from the AD&D PHB & the presumption that adventurers are strangers to the campaign play area with families back home:
Strangers in a Strange Land
From the AD&D PHB, page 34: In AD&D, it is presumed that "in all likelihood", the player character is unfamiliar with the campaign setting. ...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I wrote about the weird "Establishing the Character" example from the AD&D PHB & the presumption that adventurers are strangers to the campaign play area with families back home:
My contribution to the proud tradition of trying to understand alignment languages. I discuss why speaking alignment languages in AD&D is socially taboo, how then they are meant to be used to identify creatures with a common ethos, & what this suggests about what alignment language actually is:
Alignment Languages are Socially Repulsive
In my last post on languages in AD&D , I teased that alignment languages were a topic worthy of their own post. Was I right? Let's find out....
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
My contribution to the proud tradition of trying to understand alignment languages. I discuss why speaking alignment languages in AD&D is socially taboo, how then they are meant to be used to identify creatures with a common ethos, & what this suggests about what alignment language actually is:
I wrote about the huge number of languages in AD&D, how every demihuman & humanoid is a linguist, capturing monsters to learn their languages, all the ways to speak languages you don't know, & whether any of this is fun game design:
Speak with Monsters: The Languages of AD&D and the Adventurous Linguist
Language is a hot topic in D&D. You can refer back to my post from early last year , which also serves as a sort of bibliography of the many...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I wrote about the huge number of languages in AD&D, how every demihuman & humanoid is a linguist, capturing monsters to learn their languages, all the ways to speak languages you don't know, & whether any of this is fun game design:
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
Put your feet up & skive your way through what remains of the working week with the Wyrd Science Gazetteer!
This week @emielboven.itch.io's DURF puts on some weight + loads of interesting stuff to check out, from Warhammer themed model railways through to a look at AD&D's horrific baby beaver trade
This week @emielboven.itch.io's DURF puts on some weight + loads of interesting stuff to check out, from Warhammer themed model railways through to a look at AD&D's horrific baby beaver trade
Slay To Find Out
In this week's Gazetteer, one of our favourite post-OSR games, DURF, gets expanded, Frogs cast a spell on you and what is better than Warhammer? Warhammer and model railways, obviously.
wyrd.science
October 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Put your feet up & skive your way through what remains of the working week with the Wyrd Science Gazetteer!
This week @emielboven.itch.io's DURF puts on some weight + loads of interesting stuff to check out, from Warhammer themed model railways through to a look at AD&D's horrific baby beaver trade
This week @emielboven.itch.io's DURF puts on some weight + loads of interesting stuff to check out, from Warhammer themed model railways through to a look at AD&D's horrific baby beaver trade
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
Banger post alert!
Also I now want an AD&D style bestiary in a Pokémon RPG
Also I now want an AD&D style bestiary in a Pokémon RPG
I wrote about the prevalence of monster poaching, egg-snatching, and giant beaver slavery in AD&D, why it's even more Evil than it sounds, & why that has kind of fun gameplay implications, plus some musings about how much you might be able to sell a mind flayer brain for.
The Monster Economy of AD&D
AD&D's most endangered creature. We all know that larger towns and cities will usually have a market for dragons . That is, it is generally ...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Banger post alert!
Also I now want an AD&D style bestiary in a Pokémon RPG
Also I now want an AD&D style bestiary in a Pokémon RPG
Reposted by Woefully Encysted Creature
All those scattered "Monster Parts" throughout the MM definitely informed our games. Inspired me to whip up some tables on the topic as well:
blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100... and blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100...
blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100... and blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100...
d100 - Monster Parts for Magical Reagents & Research
C onfession Time: I’ve always found myself to be very fond of Spell Components, even though tracking such things is often a bit too fiddly...
blog.d4caltrops.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
All those scattered "Monster Parts" throughout the MM definitely informed our games. Inspired me to whip up some tables on the topic as well:
blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100... and blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100...
blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100... and blog.d4caltrops.com/2022/03/d100...