ThinkDM

The Gunslinger Misfire

What is the Gunslinger?

The Gunslinger is a homebrew subclass created by Matthew Mercer, famed Dungeon Master of the Critical Role actual play...

Avoiding TPKs

What is a TPK?

TPK stands for "total party kill." This is when a scenario (usually combat, although not necessarily) causes the entire adventuring party to die. This normally marks the end of the campaign, absent some narrative intervention by the DM.

Why do TPKs happen?...

2021-02-20 09:41:20 +0000 UTC View Post

Way of the Word (Monk)

This is the PDF for the Way of the Word Monk subclass. This shout-based subclass allows you to charge up different power words to attack with elemental powers and to fortify yourself with different self-enhancing power words.

2021-01-30 08:45:57 +0000 UTC View Post

Idea Workshop: Tarot-based subclass

I'm tinkering with a tarot-based subclass. This is my first pass at trying to cobble together some features based on the Major Arcana.

It's looking like a cleric. I like the fact that the subclass features are frontloaded (1/2/6/8/17), which will allow me to give the player access to card m...

DC 0 Checks

As a matter of adventure design (or when improvising as a DM), you  shouldn’t lock mission-critical information behind a skill check.  Because if the characters fail the check, the plot line is dead.

But, the solution isn’t to get rid of skill checks.

The solution is DC ...

Progressive Skill Check Template

Hi folks! As an accompaniment to today's ThinkDM article on DC 0 Checks, I'm providing these handy tables for you to write out progressive skill checks.

Here's an image you can write on:

...

ProTip: Gunner has replaced Crossbow Expert as the feat for martial blasters

Steady Aim Power

Steady Aim is a supplementary Rogue class feature presented as an optional rule in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. It allows the Rogue to spend a bonus action to give themselves advantage on an attack roll, so long as they stay still. Here's how it works:

Steady Aim

A calculator to compare and combine the new Steady Aim bonus action with Elven Accuracy, Sharpshooter, Crossbow Expert, Archery Fighting Style. From Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

Psionic Energy Dice Progression Calculator

Use this link to plot out the progression of your Psionic Energy dice for a Psi Warrior/Soulknife multiclass.

SCAG Blade Cantrip Errata

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (SCAG) published two cantrips that have long been a staple of the martial spellcaster (AKA "gish") playstyle:

• Green-Flame Blade
• Booming Blade

SCAG was published by Wizards of the Coast in conjunction with Green Ronin Publish...

THAC0 5e Tables

Here's some THAC0 tables broken down by character level, so they don't take up as much space on your screen.

THAC0 5e

There's an old D&D system that you've probably heard of.

It's called THAC0, which stands for "To Hit Armor Class Zero."

The Thing ≬ The Bachelor

A 1-page romance horror RPG you can play in an evening, just in time for Halloween weekend!

You Can Fit 100 Intellect Devourers on the Outside of Leomund’s Tiny Hut

Len Lakofka has left us, but his memory persists in the stories we tell. 

Len was the creator of Leomund's Tiny Hut.  

He also ran a crunch column in Dragon for 6+ years.  

So, it only seems right to honor him with some fun crunch about his famous spell. I hope yo...

Monster Knowledge DCs

A system for figuring out what your players know about the monster they're facing. PDF below.

Full article here. 

Matt Mercer's Oath of the Open Sea (Paladin)

Hey Thinkers!

Famed Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer released a new subclass called the Oath of the Open Sea Paladin.

Here's my initial thoughts:

OATH SPELLS 

2020-10-17 17:11:11 +0000 UTC View Post

Poison

In preparation for working on a new system to fix 5th Edition's Poisoner's Kit, I made the the attached sheet summarizing the benefits of the poisons listed in the Dungeon Master's Guide. 

Since it takes forever to make a poison by RAW, and the Poisoner's Kit is not even a part of the ...

Dungeons & Designers 9.18.2020

Notes from the D&D Celebration Panel featuring Rime of the Frostmaiden Lead Designer Chris Perkins and D&D Lead Rules Designer Jeremy Crawford (September 18, 2020).

Icewind Dale & Rime of the Frostmaiden

• Inspiration
  • John Carpen...
    2020-09-19 14:47:22 +0000 UTC View Post

Accessible Dungeons

A sidebar for D&D modules that want to include accessible dungeons and other places.

Accessible Dungeons (Text Form) 

2020-08-18 03:12:10 +0000 UTC View Post

Warlock Pact of the Grail

This is a new homebrew spell pact for the Warlock.

It's not my most polished work, since I knocked it out over a busy weekend, but it's fun.

The story goes back to the new Strahd mini, which is holding a wine glass. I 2020-08-10 13:25:42 +0000 UTC View Post

So.... I made a game.

Giving it to y'all for free. Hope you enjoy. :)

5e Spot/Listen System Numbers

I was going to run a bunch of numbers for y'all to show you how the Spot/Listen system works. In the process, I decided to just make a calculator so you can run any numbers you want. After tinkering with it a lot, I'm happy with the system and I'll be trying it out in an upcoming heist I'm planni...

Listen/Spot Checks for 5e

Wait, don't run. I know what you're thinking. There's good reasons we ditched that system.

What if I told you that we could preserve the detail of listen/spot without the mechanically punishing aspects?

System math coming out in a patron-exclusive post later today. Stay tuned.

Gender Bias in D&D Character Creation

I'm currently running a survey to see if there's any bias in race and class selection based on player gender. I've attached the google sheet that breaks down the data so you can view the updates live. All the charts are consolidated on the "Charts" tab. Just scroll down.

2020-07-18 19:48:02 +0000 UTC View Post

5 Skill D&D

The full refined article is up on ThinkDM.

If you caught the sneak preview on patreon, go check out the article. I made a lot of refinements, wrote a bunch more, and came up with a rule of thumb for implementation (re: tweaking character/background/racial skill features).

What does DM stand for?

Matt Perkins Tells You Why You Need ThinkDM

5 Skill System (D&D5e)

Why have 18 skills when you can have 5?

We're giving D&D players more agency over the narrative implementation of their skillsets by streamlining a bloated system and highlighting a popular variant rule.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Alternate Ability Skills

There's a great 2020-07-13 17:09:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Animate Objects Fix

Hi Thinkers! I finally finished editing my article on Animate Objects, so I deleted Part I and Part II and I'm adding it back here as one long post.

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Animate Objects is a 5th level spell in D&D 5th Edition that turns objects in your environment into weapons....