Thaco Thoughts With Rob

This week Rob, your host sits down and talks about scrolls. How to make one as a player and a DM! #Adnd2e #tsr #osr

In this very episode, Rob breaks down how you can play monster races as a player and what baggage that comes along with it! #thaco #adnd2e #TSR

In this episode Rob explains his methods of creating new monsters on the fly. Listen in as he shows his mad science ways of mashing monsters together to get something new and different! #thaco #adnd2e #TSR

Listen in this week as Rob goes over DM Horror stories at the table and how it related to AD&D 2e! #adnd #thaco #adnd2e #Tsr

In this episode of Thaco Thoughts with Rob, he delves into the intriguing world of Dungeon Master (DM) Non-Player Characters (NPCs), using The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a key example. Rob explores how the DM's NPC can sometimes overshadow the Player Characters (PCs), shifting the focus of the narrative. Tune in for insightful discussions and tips on balancing NPCs in your campaigns!...

In this episode, Rob talks about the world of kits, those flavorful add-ons that bring characters to life. I break down a couple of my personal favorites, the Swashbuckler and Forest Runner, sharing how they’ve shaped my games. Then, I take the Barbarian Kit from the Fighter’s Handbook and show you how to reshape and refine it to match your vision. Finally, I wrap up with a simple truth: kits are...

This episode is about death and having a healthy attitude towards it. I share my experiences both as a player and DM and try to demonstrate that the death of a character can sometimes be the best part of a game.

Today, Rob is peeling back the layers of myth and legend surrounding one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most iconic monsters—the Medusa . We’re talking first edition versus second edition , the evolution of this petrifying nightmare, and the deep-cut lore that most players (and even some DMs) don’t know. First, let’s get into the classic Medusa —the terrifying, snake-haired horror that could freeze a...

In this episode of “THAC0 Thoughts with Rob,” Rob discusses the role of divine servants in role-playing games, particularly focusing on clerics, druids, and paladins. He emphasizes that these characters are not merely healers or support roles but are representatives of a higher power, carrying a significant responsibility. The discussion highlights the importance of aligning a character’s motivati...

In this episode, Rob talks about one of the more overlooked but fascinating aspects of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2e: non-lethal combat . Pulled straight from the Player’s Handbook (pages 128–130), we’re breaking down the four distinct forms of subduing your foes without leaving a pile of bodies in your wake: punching, wrestling, overbearing, and using the flat of your blade . Here’s a taste...

🎙️ In this spellbinding episode, Rob dives deep into the world of the Vancian magic system, tracing its roots in literary history and exploring how it has shaped tabletop RPGs as we know them. He unpacks the unique "flavor" this structured spell-slot system brings to games and examines its impact on the global balance of power within a fantasy setting. Rob also delves into the intriguing possibili...

In this episode of the podcast, Rob explores the concept of saving throws and how they compare to using attributes as saving throws in tabletop games. He delves into what saving throws represent, examining their role as a reactive mechanic, and contrasts them with the proactive nature of attributes. Rob also discusses the broader implications of each approach, offering insights into how these mech...

Who’s Rob? He’s the guy with over three decades of dice rolls, character deaths, and late-night campaigns under his belt. In this first episode of Thaco Thoughts , Rob pulls back the curtain and sets the stage for what’s to come. From unraveling the mysteries of THAC0 to sharing war stories from the tabletop trenches, this is your all-access pass to AD&D 2nd Edition—raw, unfiltered, and straig...