The Evil Dungeon Master Universe

It’s hard to believe, but here we are—the end of the year and the final show for 2024! Time flies when you’re slaying dragons, spinning tales, and rolling dice. For this special episode, I decided to do a little housekeeping and tackle the email bag . That’s right—I’ve gathered up all the questions you’ve sent my way over the past year, the ones I haven’t had the chance to answer yet, and I’m clea...

The “Command” spell allows a cleric to issue a single, clear command to a creature that understands the language. The target must obey the command for one round, provided it’s unambiguous. Common commands include “halt” or “flee.” Undead and some intelligent creatures may resist the spell with a saving throw, ensuring it’s not foolproof. Highlights 🗣️ Single Command : The spell issues one clear co...

In Dragon Magazine #92, Gary Gygax wrote and article discussing that the way Cleric's get their spells isn't really written in stone and you as the DM can change it up a bit. Clerics and druids have access to all spells without needing spell books, as their powers are granted by their deities. While the rules allow flexibility, experienced Dungeon Masters may alter these to enhance gameplay. The b...

Players often use wishes or alter reality spells to boost their character’s ability scores. However, to prevent characters from easily achieving high scores (like multiple 18s), it’s suggested that once an ability score reaches 16, wishes only increase it by 1/10th of a point. Thus, raising a score from 16 to 17 requires 10 wishes. Magical books or devices can still raise scores above 16 by a full...

Today's podcast, I got an facebook message on my page from John P, asking about how to make Taverns a little less boring. Each tavern should have a unique style , distinct food , and interesting NPCs to create memorable experiences for players. Highlights: Style of the Place : Unique ambiance and decor. Food Offerings: Distinctive dishes or "house specials" not found elsewhere. Interesting NPCs: E...

The “Charm of Protection from Theft” is a protective charm written on yellow or red paper that reduces stealth success by 20% for intruders. It must be displayed on the door lintel and inflicts damage on removal by non-owners. The “Diamond Mace” is a magical item that discharges a powerful lightning bolt but has limited charges and can be sold for 1000 ch’ien. The “Drums of Thunder” allow the wear...

Honor is paramount for a character, reflecting their worth, dependability, and family reputation. Honor can be earned or lost through actions, impacting a character’s social standing, respect, and influence. Unlike traditional notions of good and evil, honor measures deeds accomplished regardless of morality. Characters must carefully track their honor points as their actions can elevate or disgra...

Today's podcast topic comes from LeroyD20 on X, he suggested a discussion about cursed items. Cursed items. The bane of adventurers everywhere and the mischievous delight of dungeon masters. You know the drill—our plucky hero picks up a shiny new sword, only to find out it’s not so much “Sword of Slaying” as it is “Blade of Bondage.” But what makes cursed items so delightfully dangerous in AD&...

Today's podcast is all about the Rod of Smiting. I wanted to discuss this Magical item, because I've seen some confusion surrounding it in regards to how its used and where it falls under for using it. The Rod of Smiting is a +3 magic weapon that deals 4-11 damage (d8 + 3) to most enemies and has special effects against golems and outer plane creatures. Against golems, it inflicts 8-22 damage (2d8...

The Cloak of Guarding is a gray woolen garment that becomes rigid upon impact, deflecting non-magical missiles and reducing damage from physical attacks. It withstands pressure until it absorbs 25 hit points of damage, after which it disintegrates. However, it offers no protection against heat, cold, or electrical attacks. It has a value of 1500 experience points and can be sold for 10,000 gold pi...

The article "Designing for Unique Wilderness Encounters" provides Dungeon Masters with tables and instructions to generate unique terrains and features for wilderness encounters. It focuses on integrating environmental diversity into gameplay by considering terrain types, grades, slopes, and features like streams, ponds, and vegetation. The goal is to create realistic and strategic battlefield set...

An interesting magical item from the AD&D Comic book 1989, issue 2. Highlights 🔮 Lockstone Description : A magical device resembling a crystalline or metallic orb or egg, believed to originate from the outer planes. 🕒 Timed Functionality : Lockstones are set to release one or more spells when specific conditions are met. 🧙‍♂️ Programming : Can only be programmed or reprogrammed by a wizard...

Solstice Fang is a powerful +2 longsword forged from rare silvery metal, designed specifically to combat undead creatures, particularly vampires. Crafted by the Order of the Dawn during a solar eclipse, it features magical properties that enhance its effectiveness against the undead. However, wielding it comes with a curse, causing the user to experience visions of the undead’s final moments, weak...

The Wand of Enemy Detection is an underappreciated magic item in AD&D, useful for detecting hostile intent and enhancing gameplay strategies. Highlights 🪄 Useful Item: The wand detects hostile creatures, including invisible or disguised enemies. 🚪 Closed Door Detection: Players can use the wand to check for threats behind closed doors. 🎭 Hostility Criteria: The wand senses intent, meaning i...

On today's podcast, I decided to explore the Thorn Curse from the Halloween movies and how it could be used in your campaign. In the isolated village of Thornbrook, strange deaths and ominous signs lead players to investigate a dark curse tied to the Thorn Mark, which forces one family member to sacrifice kin for the village’s survival. As the players uncover the curse’s history and face moral dil...

Today's podcast talks about something that is trending on X about how Gary Gygax stated about how to play AD&D and Batman Tim wanted a wacky creature talked about today! Highlights 📖 Blindheim is featured from the Fiend Folio, a 1981 UK monster compilation. 🐸 Described as a yellow frog-like humanoid with blinding eyes. 🌟 Its blinding stare can incapacitate characters for 11 to 20 turns. 🎲...

In today's episode, I go over the rules for detect good and/or evil as listed in the Dungeon Masters guide. This gives us a little more then what's listed in the players handbook under the Paladin ability "Detect Evil". It tells us that only "Know Alignment" can truly determine a person's alignment. The detection of good and evil in characters relies on powerful spells or inherent character alignm...

The “Rainbow” spell is a 5th-level cleric evocation/alteration that harnesses the power of rainbows to create various magical effects. The cleric can choose from four applications: a magical bow that fires colored arrows with special damage effects, a bridge made of rainbow hues, an elevator that lifts the cleric and others, or a flagon that produces magical water with healing and protective prope...

The Croatoan Roanoke legend surrounds the mystery of the lost colony established in 1587 on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. When Governor John White returned in 1590, he found the settlement abandoned, with only the word “Croatoan” carved into a post, hinting at the nearby Croatoan tribe. Theories about the colonists’ fate include assimilation, relocation, and death from starvation or conflict, ma...

Shadows are undead creatures tied to the negative material plane, often lurking in ancient ruins or deep underground. They drain life force by touch, sapping both health and strength from their victims. Shadows are challenging to detect, blending seamlessly into darkness, and are immune to many typical spells and cold-based attacks. Victims drained to 0 strength or health transform into shadows th...

The article "Arcane Academe: Adding to the Thief" by Jeff Martin introduces new skill options for the Thief class in AD&D, inspired by the Unearthed Arcana supplement. It provides additional skills like Appraise, Ransack, and Infiltrate, aiming to give Thieves more variety and specialization within the game. This expansion allows for a more detailed approach to Thief abilities, enhancing their...

Today's podcast comes from listener, Hunter and he wanted to know if Tieflings should be common in a fantasy game. So I tried to answer this question, while looking at the AD&D 2e Planewalker's Handbook. Tieflings, the most enigmatic of the plane-touched, evoke both fascination and fear. Unlike aasimar or genasi, tieflings lack a clear heritage and are often viewed through the lens of stigma t...

Sunray is a 7th-level druid spell that creates a beam of light resembling sunlight, causing blindness and significant damage to creatures within its area of effect. It has a range of 1 inch per level, lasts for 1 round, and affects a 1-foot diameter sphere. Those harmed by sunlight or using ultravision face severe consequences, and undead creatures suffer substantial damage. The spell requires an...

Happy Halloween everyone! Demonic possession, often absent in D&D lore, allows powerful demons (level IV or higher) to control the bodies of mortals. Only specific demons can possess adventurers, requiring an amulet to remain nearby. Possession involves a saving throw, and a failed save leads to the victim being controlled by the demon. Exorcism is possible but painful, with varying outcomes f...

Xill are rare, bipedal, flame-red creatures with four arms that can wield weapons and grapple victims. They reproduce asexually by laying eggs on living humanoids. Xill can shift between the Ethereal and Prime Material Planes, often surprising their victims. They prefer to paralyze or subdue their targets before injecting eggs. While vulnerable during egg-laying, they gain immunity to all but magi...