Doolin Digital
@doolin-digital.bsky.social
Forever DM, old school gamer, computer programmer, college professor and hobbyist gamedev.
I rarely balance encounters. It's up to the players to figure out how best to handle encounters, and it doesn't always have to be combat to the death. Seeing how it plays out is part of the fun of being DM. 😈
I do usually telegraph danger though.
I do usually telegraph danger though.
December 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I rarely balance encounters. It's up to the players to figure out how best to handle encounters, and it doesn't always have to be combat to the death. Seeing how it plays out is part of the fun of being DM. 😈
I do usually telegraph danger though.
I do usually telegraph danger though.
OK, it's clear to me that I need a copy of the Japanese RC.
December 4, 2025 at 1:03 AM
OK, it's clear to me that I need a copy of the Japanese RC.
Well, the history of Linux is pretty fascinating. 😊 Start with the CTSS operating system at MIT, then the MULTICS project, then the development of Unix at Bell Labs. Explore the Unix Wars of the 80s, and the rise of Linux and the Open Source movement in the 90s.
December 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Well, the history of Linux is pretty fascinating. 😊 Start with the CTSS operating system at MIT, then the MULTICS project, then the development of Unix at Bell Labs. Explore the Unix Wars of the 80s, and the rise of Linux and the Open Source movement in the 90s.
Thanks for that
December 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Thanks for that
The older I get and the more enshittified everything else gets, the more I find solace in old hardware with minimal, private, and distraction free software.
December 2, 2025 at 4:17 AM
The older I get and the more enshittified everything else gets, the more I find solace in old hardware with minimal, private, and distraction free software.
Yeah, in my BECMI games, I just give the players a table with the ascending bonus, and in all resources I subtract the AC from 19 to get the to hit number. Same math, same results.
As I understand it, the descending AC goes back to battleship armor rating where Class 1 is better than Class 2.
As I understand it, the descending AC goes back to battleship armor rating where Class 1 is better than Class 2.
December 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Yeah, in my BECMI games, I just give the players a table with the ascending bonus, and in all resources I subtract the AC from 19 to get the to hit number. Same math, same results.
As I understand it, the descending AC goes back to battleship armor rating where Class 1 is better than Class 2.
As I understand it, the descending AC goes back to battleship armor rating where Class 1 is better than Class 2.
Judaism in the Book of Enoch, and a second for Mesopotamia. The first edition monster manual actually derives some names for its devils and demons from there, such as Pazuzu.
December 1, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Judaism in the Book of Enoch, and a second for Mesopotamia. The first edition monster manual actually derives some names for its devils and demons from there, such as Pazuzu.
Oooh, I really like that. Everyone is welcome to continue keeping their own notes, but the Chronicler pays special attention to it. It could be a source of player pride, but also one that connects to their character if they are the clerical, scribal type.
November 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Oooh, I really like that. Everyone is welcome to continue keeping their own notes, but the Chronicler pays special attention to it. It could be a source of player pride, but also one that connects to their character if they are the clerical, scribal type.
I think we're of a similar mind. I'm not a Luddite. I'm just old enough to remember when technology wasn't lame and served me, not the other way around.
November 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I think we're of a similar mind. I'm not a Luddite. I'm just old enough to remember when technology wasn't lame and served me, not the other way around.
What is the technology that you are refusing to adopt that's getting you called this?
November 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
What is the technology that you are refusing to adopt that's getting you called this?
The world is just full of fascinating things, and one often leads to another.
You're almost never bored, but it's really hard to put in those 10000 hours to master something when you're regularly context switching.
You're almost never bored, but it's really hard to put in those 10000 hours to master something when you're regularly context switching.
November 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The world is just full of fascinating things, and one often leads to another.
You're almost never bored, but it's really hard to put in those 10000 hours to master something when you're regularly context switching.
You're almost never bored, but it's really hard to put in those 10000 hours to master something when you're regularly context switching.
This is marvelous.
November 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This is marvelous.
I'm really enjoying reading this. I think 1 has a lot going for it, even if the DM has to do some work. It's full of great building materials
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I'm really enjoying reading this. I think 1 has a lot going for it, even if the DM has to do some work. It's full of great building materials
This is precisely why I never finished it. The games enemies even level up with you so you can grind as long as you wish.
November 19, 2025 at 11:54 PM
This is precisely why I never finished it. The games enemies even level up with you so you can grind as long as you wish.
I totally agree with everything you say here, but the effort of including AI as part of the curriculum and course design just feels like drudgery to me. I just haven't found a way to get excited about it yet.
I also have a surprisingly high number of students who want nothing to do with AI.
I also have a surprisingly high number of students who want nothing to do with AI.
November 19, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I totally agree with everything you say here, but the effort of including AI as part of the curriculum and course design just feels like drudgery to me. I just haven't found a way to get excited about it yet.
I also have a surprisingly high number of students who want nothing to do with AI.
I also have a surprisingly high number of students who want nothing to do with AI.
Rival NPC parties. Nothing gets the players moving like a group of condescending, arrogant NPCs, charging past or around them, trying to get the treasure before the players.
November 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Rival NPC parties. Nothing gets the players moving like a group of condescending, arrogant NPCs, charging past or around them, trying to get the treasure before the players.
Yes! That's the idea.
January 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Yes! That's the idea.
I'm doing this with the Caves of Chaos in the Keep on the Borderlands. I'm sprinkling it with evidence from older cultures in the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. This will actually help lead to the next adventure, Night's Dark Terror.
January 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I'm doing this with the Caves of Chaos in the Keep on the Borderlands. I'm sprinkling it with evidence from older cultures in the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. This will actually help lead to the next adventure, Night's Dark Terror.
There's a wonderful TTRPG community here. I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I do.
January 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
There's a wonderful TTRPG community here. I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I do.
I stopped worrying about it a couple of years ago. Encounters can be unbalanced and unfair, and the players have to navigate that. They can bribe, lie, bluff, flee, bargain or even be taken prisoner, but being outmatched does not always mean death.
January 1, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I stopped worrying about it a couple of years ago. Encounters can be unbalanced and unfair, and the players have to navigate that. They can bribe, lie, bluff, flee, bargain or even be taken prisoner, but being outmatched does not always mean death.
I've been collecting the Gazetteers myself. They are so much fun to read and spark the imagination. I have five to go, I think.
January 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I've been collecting the Gazetteers myself. They are so much fun to read and spark the imagination. I have five to go, I think.
That's very good to know. I'll keep that in mind in my preparation notes!
December 26, 2024 at 12:59 AM
That's very good to know. I'll keep that in mind in my preparation notes!
Thanks for the heads up. Is that even with reaction rolls and morale checks?
December 26, 2024 at 12:35 AM
Thanks for the heads up. Is that even with reaction rolls and morale checks?