Alphastream

The Alphastream Game Design Blog

Classic Adventures: Converting Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh to 5E (or D&D Next)

Learn the steps to easily convert a classic adventure to 5E. The excellent Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh is used as an example.

October 17, 2015 · 1 Comment

Fury of the Lord of the Sea

A pulp adventure featuring a cult of dragonmen bringing a gargantuan kraken to destroy you? I was really happy to write this adventure for Kobold Press. Check it out!

October 16, 2015

The Lurker Fallacy

Lurkers in 4E are the basis for several aspects of D&D Next stealth… and that’s a huge problem for both DMs and players. Fortunately, history also shows us the solution!

October 15, 2015

Addendum: DnD Next Monster Design and Organized Play

Organized play aims to create fun adventures DMs can run easily. Comparing organized play’s monster formats across the editions is an excellent lens by which to study monster design and identify a path for the future.

October 14, 2015

The Threat of D&D Next Monster Design

Should D&D Next stat blocks be so plain? Let’s compare them to a similar 4E monster and identify how the format could improve.

October 14, 2015

Last Stand at Camp Starfall – May of the Dead

Every DM needs a campy fun horror adventure in their arsenal! This free adventure is perfect for October and combines horror, sci-fi, and fun monsters.

October 13, 2015 · 1 Comment

ODnD and the Challenge of Pleasing Everyone, Part 2

In OD&D a greatsword and a chair do the same damage, the best defense against trolls is a mule, and you heal 1 hit point every other day. And we still have fun.

October 12, 2015

Making Silt Horror Tentacles!

Turn a cheap rubber octopus into silt horror tentacles! This is a fun and easy do-it-yourself project.

October 11, 2015

Adventure Hacking in Dark Sun

Where we mash-up Aliens and Thunderspire Labyrinth to create a fantastic Dark Sun adventure – or was it only in our minds?

October 11, 2015 · 1 Comment

Breaking Patterns, Part 2

When a combat is dissatisfyingly easy, we drop in a ferocious custom-built sand drake! Download the monster for your game. Episode 8 of my Dark Sun campaign, Crown of Sorrow.

October 10, 2015

Support This Site

Become a patron at Patreon!

Support this Site

Mastodon

Follow me on

Mastodon logo Mastodon

BlueSky

Follow me on

BlueSky logo BlueSky

Privacy Policy