Alphastream

The Alphastream Game Design Blog

How Often Should We Roll Skill Checks, If At All?

Let’s look at the impact on play with and without skill checks and consider our own approach to how often we should have players roll them!

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How Many PCs Can Try a Skill Check?

A character tries to roll a skill check in D&D or another RPG. The rest of the players want to roll at the same time. Should we allow that? Let’s examine the math!

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How Many Times Can a PC Reroll a Check?

A character tries to roll a skill check in D&D, Pirate Borg, or another RPG. They fail. Can they try again?

April 21, 2026 · 2 Comments

Watched Stranger Things? Here’s How to Start Playing D&D!

Here is how to get started with D&D, as a player or Dungeon Master. Find how to learn the rules, pick a starting adventure, find players, and get started as a DM.

January 27, 2026 · Leave a comment

Build a Daggerheart Fear Tracker!

Here is how to build a fear tracker for the Daggerheart RPG! This is a low cost, easy, and fun project!

January 25, 2026 · Leave a comment

What Did We Accomplish In a Year?

Let’s take a look at ways we can measure a year and what might help us achieve a healthy and productive 2026.

January 5, 2026 · 1 Comment

My New Initiative Tracking System for Draw Steel

I get crafty and find an excellent way to track initiative in Draw Steel. I share how I made it, so you can too!

November 20, 2025 · 10 Comments

How an RPG Book is Made

How is an RPG made? Which steps happen in which order, and what are the pitfalls to avoid?

September 29, 2025 · Leave a comment

Join My Tables at 2025 GameHole Con!

Come join me at GameHole 2025 for games, panels, and more!

July 18, 2025 · Leave a comment

The RPG Industry Wants Stars

Is it good for D&D and our hobby to have designers become stars?

June 18, 2025 · 2 Comments

Learn to Play Daggerheart in 5 Rooms

Want to play Daggerheart? I use the 5-Room Learn-to-Play technique to teach the basics of Critical Role’s new RPG.

June 10, 2025 · 3 Comments

Learn-to-Play with a 5-Room Dungeon

How do we teach a new RPG? I modify the 5-Room Dungeon concept into a Learn to Play approach we can use to teach most RPGs.

May 27, 2025 · 3 Comments

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