Category Archives: The Blog

How-To Run a Successful One-Shot Adventure

One of the most fun and engaging ways to play D&D is through a one-shot adventure. A one-shot adventure is a self-contained story that typically lasts for one session, usually around three to six hours. It’s a great way to introduce new players to the game, and it’s also perfect for more experienced players whoContinue reading “How-To Run a Successful One-Shot Adventure”

Let’s Explore Character Classes!

In Dungeons and Dragons, players have the opportunity to create characters from a variety of classes, each with unique abilities and skills. Choosing a class is an essential step in character creation, as it determines the character’s abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. In this blog post, we will explore different character classes and their unique abilities,Continue reading “Let’s Explore Character Classes!”

Monster Highlight: The Ankheg

Ankhegs are insectoid creatures that are fearsome predators known for their ability to burrow underground and ambush unsuspecting adventurers, and they have been a staple of D&D campaigns for decades. In this post, we will delve into the lore and abilities of ankhegs, as well as explore some tips for DMs and players on howContinue reading “Monster Highlight: The Ankheg”

Premium Content: So There Was a Problem…

Dear Subscribers, there was…an issue…with the next few episodes of the Ingrates. The long and the short of it is that a few episodes were nothing but a few hours of no sound. Like…none. And this ranges from episodes 37-39, as well as for one of the ones in the 40’s. I know, not good.Continue reading “Premium Content: So There Was a Problem…”

The Ethical Implications of Player Actions in a D&D Campaign

As players navigate the world of D&D, they must make decisions that have ethical implications. These decisions may involve how they treat non-player characters (NPCs), how they handle conflicts, and how they interact with the world around them. In this blog post, we will explore the ethical implications of player actions in a D&D campaign.Continue reading “The Ethical Implications of Player Actions in a D&D Campaign”

How-To DM: Balancing Encounters

As a Dungeon Master, one of the key responsibilities is to create encounters that are challenging and engaging for the players. Encounters can be anything from combat to puzzles, and they serve as a way to move the story forward and keep players invested in the game. However, creating encounters that are both balanced andContinue reading “How-To DM: Balancing Encounters”

The Significance of Dice Rolls and Probability in D&D Gameplay

Dear Readers, it has come to my attention that some of my posts lack a sense of context, in that new readers, or those new to D&D have zero idea what I’m talking about. As such, I will be trying to ensure my posts are clear to both new and veteran players alike! Dice rollsContinue reading “The Significance of Dice Rolls and Probability in D&D Gameplay”

Monster Highlight: Alhoon

Dear Readers, Dungeons and Dragons has always been a game that has captured the imaginations of people around the world (including, obviously, yours truly!). From the moment that you roll your first set of dice, you are transported into a world of adventure and danger, where anything is possible. One of the most fascinating creaturesContinue reading “Monster Highlight: Alhoon”

Inglorious Ingrates Episode 16: The Life of the Party

The Ingrates are dealing with the aftermath of the “Off-site location” and the implications thereof. What will the Ingrates do next to cope with what they saw?

The Psychology of D&D

Dear Readers, in D&D, players create characters and embark on quests, engaging in combat and using their skills and abilities to overcome challenges. But beyond the surface-level gameplay, D&D is a fascinating platform for analyzing the psychology of both the players and the characters they create. Last time, we discussed the benefits of playing D&DContinue reading “The Psychology of D&D”

Project I’m Excited About – Battletech: Mercenaries

Dear Readers, it should come as no surprise to you, especially since I’ve talked about it in the past, that I am a huge Battletech fan. Like, second only to D&D, I love Battletech. For those who aren’t aware, Battletech is a tabletop war game of giant stompy robots. As the picture above shows, theContinue reading “Project I’m Excited About – Battletech: Mercenaries”

The Benefits of Playing D&D For Mental Health and Social Skills

While Dungeons and Dragons (and table top RPGs in general) is known for its fantastical elements, it offers many benefits beyond entertainment. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of playing D&D for mental health and social skills. One of the most significant benefits of playing D&D is that it boosts creativity andContinue reading “The Benefits of Playing D&D For Mental Health and Social Skills”

Monster Highlight: Gem Dragons

Hey there Dear Readers, have you ever encountered a gem dragon in your Dungeons and Dragons campaign? My DMs out there, have you used them before? If not, you’re missing out on one of the most fascinating and unique creatures in the game. Gem dragons are a subset of dragons that are associated with differentContinue reading “Monster Highlight: Gem Dragons”

The Inglorious Ingrates Episode 15 – The Prophecy

The Ingrates are back at it again, this time finding out secrets that no one was meant to find. They also deal with the consequences of the last battle!

Understanding the Different Alignments in D&D and How to Roleplay Them

One of the key aspects of character creation in D&D is choosing an alignment. An alignment is a philosophical and moral outlook that helps define a character’s beliefs, motivations, and actions. There are nine different alignments in D&D, which can be broken down into three categories: Lawful, Neutral, and Chaotic. In this blog post, we’llContinue reading “Understanding the Different Alignments in D&D and How to Roleplay Them”

How-To DM: Dealing With Character Death

All jokes aside, in most tabletop roleplaying games, death is a very real possibility for player characters. Whether it is the result of a failed saving throw, a critical hit from a powerful enemy, or some other unfortunate circumstance, character death can be a devastating experience for players. Dealing with character death in a wayContinue reading “How-To DM: Dealing With Character Death”

D&D Direct Stream – TL;DR Edition

Dear Readers, as many of you may have heard, Wizards of the Coast recently released a D&D Direct stream, to discuss all of the things that are in the works for D&D over the next year. Here’s the TL;DR… That last one can’t be stressed enough. A lot of people were really looking forward toContinue reading “D&D Direct Stream – TL;DR Edition”

Painting Update: Female Human Barbarian

Dear Readers, I’ve made some good progress on the miniature this week! Here, see what I mean: As you can see my progress is, indeed, coming along. I started with painting her bracers. I then moved on to her skirt, belt, and boots. For the boots, I’m using one color of brown, for the beltContinue reading “Painting Update: Female Human Barbarian”

Premium Content: Miniature Giveaway & New Monster

Dear Subscribers, I’m here to announce two things, firstly, is that at the end of this week, I’ll be selecting a random miniature in my “box of shame” to paint for one lucky subscriber, posting pictures on my Painting Updates and sending it out to you! For those of you who are unaware, my “boxContinue reading “Premium Content: Miniature Giveaway & New Monster”

Exploring Different Types of Magic Seen in D&D

Magic is a core element of most fantasy RPGs. From casting spells to wielding magical weapons, magic can add a unique and exciting aspect to gameplay. However, not all magic is created equal. There are different types of magic in D&D, each with its own unique flavor and mechanics. In this post, we’ll explore someContinue reading “Exploring Different Types of Magic Seen in D&D”

Monster Highlight: The Abyssal Chicken

Dear Readers, in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, there are countless creatures that players can encounter on their adventures. Some are powerful and dangerous, while others are quirky and comedic. One of the more unusual creatures in the game is the Abyssal Chicken, a diminutive bird-like monster that is known for its strange abilitiesContinue reading “Monster Highlight: The Abyssal Chicken”

My Top 10 Awesome Campaign Ideas

One of the most exciting parts of playing D&D is creating and running campaigns. A campaign is a series of connected adventures that take place in a shared world. As a Dungeon Master (DM), it is your responsibility to come up with engaging campaign ideas that will keep your players invested and entertained. In thisContinue reading “My Top 10 Awesome Campaign Ideas”

How-To DM: Adventure Outlining

Dear Readers, I have a confession to make: I don’t usually write out the adventures that I run with regards to my homebrew stuff. Not even a little bit. I don’t usually pre-plan the interactions, per se, I don’t have “read aloud” text, but what I do do (hehe, insert 12-year old joke), is outline!Continue reading “How-To DM: Adventure Outlining”

Painting Update: Female Human Barbarian

Dear Readers, I’m still working on some commissions for a buddy of mine. This time, it’s a female human barbarian. Frankly she looks pretty fierce. But I guess that’s the point. In any case, she’s going to be a little bit of a challenge, as she stands on one foot on the mini stand. Here’sContinue reading “Painting Update: Female Human Barbarian”

Premium Content: New Monsters!

Dear Premium Subscribers (if you aren’t one, consider becoming one!), my editor is currently in the process of moving, so I don’t have a new Ingrates video to show you, so instead, I’m going to give you some new monsters that I’ve come up with. Although the campaign has progressed much ahead of where ourContinue reading “Premium Content: New Monsters!”

Your Guide to Tabletop Games

Dear Readers, after the D&D OGL debacle, some of you may be considering trying out other game systems, and that’s okay. Although I generally cater to D&D players, I try to make my gaming how-to’s universal in application. That said, here’s my list! Tabletop roleplaying games have been around for decades and have evolved inContinue reading “Your Guide to Tabletop Games”

Monster Highlight: The Aboleth

Dear Readers, welcome to my first “Monster Highlight” post, where I detail monsters from the various sources in the D&D Monster Manual, and more. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Dungeons and Dragons is a game that is filled with a vast array of monsters, each with theirContinue reading “Monster Highlight: The Aboleth”

Painting Update: Winter Wolf

Dear Readers, like most everything lately for this Blog, I haven’t done one of these for awhile. But it’s back! I was given a few commissions and I have been severely remiss in showing you all (and the person who is paying me to do them!) my progress as I paint. It doesn’t help thatContinue reading “Painting Update: Winter Wolf”

Premium Content – The Inglorious Ingrates Episode 35: Shotgun Wedding

The Ingrates return to Red Fern from their latest mission with shopping on the task list. But wait…are those wedding bells I’m hearing?

How-To DM: Music Soothes Even the Savage Player

Dear Readers, as I write this post, I’m listening to the “My Mix” on YouTube, of which California Dreamin’ by the Moma’s & The Papas. Oldie but goody. And looking further down my list (California dreamin’ on such a winters day…), and I have a’ha’s Take On Me, Alexander Jean’s Highs and Lows, and theContinue reading “How-To DM: Music Soothes Even the Savage Player”

Adding Homebrew Monsters to dndbeyond.com

Dear Readers, yes, I know it’s been more than a week since my last update, but there’s been good reason: life. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. The worst of which my 5-year old came down with what is likely (according to the doctor) one of two possible viruses that cause flu-like symptomsContinue reading “Adding Homebrew Monsters to dndbeyond.com”

Inglorious Ingrates Episode 12: To the Pits

Dear Readers, before the Ingrates were, there was the Hopeful Dopes. It was the Roll20 group that I ran over COVID on Tuesdays before the Ingrates became a thing (I think I was starting to outline the Ingrates at the time?). I say that to say that I came across the episodes I recorded forContinue reading “Inglorious Ingrates Episode 12: To the Pits”

Wow, Has It Been a Month (and it’s’ only halfway through!)

Dear Readers, so much has happened in such a short time, that I’m struggling just to keep up! The first is about my Christmas gifts (trust me, you’ll like it) , the next couple are news highlights, along with something cool that I got to be a part of at the beginning of February (allContinue reading “Wow, Has It Been a Month (and it’s’ only halfway through!)”

The OGL 1.1 Controversy

Okay, I said I would respond to all of this, and the storm surrounding it happened so quickly, that it took me some time to get everything together to say something meaningful. But here it goes. *big inhale* Wizards of the Coast (WotC), had released a document that was leaked back on 9 January. ThisContinue reading “The OGL 1.1 Controversy”

I’m Back, Baby!

So, I’ve gotten a chance to take a break over the holidays and I’m excited to be back! I am changing up my posting schedule to make it less stressful on me, as, you may have figured, it’s only me now posting content. I’m but one dude. THAT SAID: I’m not going away, just goingContinue reading “I’m Back, Baby!”