Alphastream

The Alphastream Game Design Blog

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

Assessing the Revised DMG for D&D 5E

The 2014 DMG was criticized as a book DMs did not consult often, or even need to read. Does the revised 2024 DMG solve these problems and become the DM’s indispensable tome? What role should a DMG play?

April 2, 2025 · 1 Comment

Best and Worst of the Revised Monster Manual

A look at the best and worst aspects of the revised Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual.

March 13, 2025 · 8 Comments

Join My Tables at 2024 GameHole Con!

Come join me at GameHole 2024 for games, panels, and more!

August 17, 2024 · 2 Comments

ENnies Nomination – Vote Now!

I am so incredibly proud to be nominated for an ENnie award for Best Online Content!

July 12, 2024 · Leave a comment

New Campaign? Finish the Old One with a To-Do List

The end of a campaign is the perfect time to reflect on what we enjoyed, wish we had done, and hope to do in our next campaign.

April 10, 2024 · 2 Comments

Can You Predict the Golden Age of RPGs?

Is the golden era of D&D about to end? Let’s examine how well can we predict the industry, and how a decline for all RPGs may not be so bad.

January 9, 2024 · 8 Comments

Make the Most of 5E’s Planescape Adventures in the Multiverse

D&D brings back Planescape! Here’s how to make the most of the 5E adventure, Turn of Fortune’s Wheel, and the accompanying monster and setting books.

January 8, 2024 · Leave a comment

What we can learn from WotC’s Core Book Sensitivity and Inclusivity Changes

In 2023, WotC updated the language of the 2014 core books for sensitivity and inclusivity. Let’s examine the changes and learn how to improve our own creations.

November 17, 2023 · 9 Comments

12 RPG Lessons from GameHole Con

GameHole is a fantastic convention filled with amazing gamers and top quality events. Here are the top lessons I learned from each event.

November 3, 2023 · 2 Comments

Estimating D&D’s Revenue

The BookScan data gives us a potential window into estimating D&D’s overall revenue, especially when combined with previous clues. If we can estimate the percentage BookScan might be of D&D’s overall revenue, we can get a rough estimate of individual revenue from different core books, adventures, sourcebooks, and even licensed products.

October 13, 2023 · 7 Comments

Are D&D Sales Declining?

In all other RPGs and D&D editions, we see diminishing returns. Each follow-up supplement, adventure, or other product will sell fewer copies and have a shorter tail than the first ones. Is 5E D&D seeing declining sales?

October 9, 2023 · 7 Comments

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