Alphastream

The Alphastream Game Design Blog

Improve Your Adventures and Campaigns by Focusing on Threats

The 5E Dungeon Master’s Guide narrowly defines a villain and their role in an adventure. By widening the definition and leaning into the concept of Threats, we can create better campaigns and adventures.

June 1, 2023 · 2 Comments

Your Game’s Lore? Make it Actionable!

Lore is often encyclopedic, hard to use and even intimidating for Dungeon Masters. Here is how actionable lore can change your game.

June 2, 2022 · 3 Comments

How DMs can make the Most of Patron-Driven Dungeons & Dragons Campaigns

Make the most of D&D’s patron rules, creating a more interesting and engaging campaign where players are united by common goals.

December 23, 2021 · 2 Comments

Dragon Talk: Give Your D&D Campaigns Purpose with Group Patrons

Want an awesome D&D campaign? Make the most of 5E’s rules for a Group Patron – an organization or entity that oversees the party, often acting as employer, financier, or mentor.

December 15, 2021 · 1 Comment

Solving the Problem of Heroes Leaving Their Home Behind

Leaving home can lessen the emotional ties heroes have, and undermine their motivations. Let’s explore alternate approaches to correct this!

October 18, 2021 · 11 Comments

Why Do Heroes Leave Their Home Base Behind?

Why do heroes leave their home base behind, and what are the consequences of this design?

October 14, 2021 · 3 Comments

Learn to Play the New Dune RPG with this Mini-Series!

Want to learn how to play the new Dune RPG by Modiphius Entertainment? Of course you do! And your time to do that starts today, June 6th, at 5:30 PM Pacific (8:30 PM Eastern)!

July 6, 2021 · 4 Comments

Collaborative Campaign Creation on the Dragon Talk Podcast

Hear me on the official D&D podcast, discussing collaborative campaign building. Then get my free guide walking you through the process!

May 19, 2021 · Leave a comment

For a Great Campaign, Ask the PCs What Happens 10 to 100 Years After It Ends

This technique is a great way to end a campaign – but it is also how we can begin the design for a great campaign.

February 24, 2021 · Leave a comment

The Official Timeline for the Forgotten Realms and Its Adventures

Learn the timeline when Forgotten Realms adventures take place, how FR counts its years, and key moments in FR history.

April 9, 2020 · 108 Comments

Creating a Player-Focused Tomb of Annihilation Campaign

Published 5E D&D campaigns, including the new Tomb of Annihilation, provide the players and DM with a ton of possible content to use. This technique allows us to find out what our players want and create a memorable campaign before the first die is rolled!

September 13, 2017 · 5 Comments

Ashes of Athas: The Development Process

The development process can help identify and resolve an adventure’s weakest points.

October 20, 2015

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