<![CDATA[The Black Notebook]]>https://www.blacknotebook.orghttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cdnW!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F54bbeaf9-90e7-469c-ab02-050d171a98e8_1024x1024.pngThe Black Notebookhttps://www.blacknotebook.orgSubstackTue, 04 Aug 2026 15:24:07 GMT<![CDATA[Why D&D Trolls Were Nightmare Fuel]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-d-and-d-trolls-were-nightmarehttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-d-and-d-trolls-were-nightmareThu, 30 Jul 2026 12:03:56 GMT

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Trolls have terrified adventurers since the earliest days of AD&D, and for good reason. They were fast, relentless, and incredibly difficult to kill. Long before video games made trolls a familiar fantasy monster, AD&D players learned that chopping one down was only the beginning. Unless someone in the party had fire or acid ready, that “dead” troll was about to stand right back up.

In this episode, I look at what made the AD&D 1st Edition troll such an unforgettable monster. We’ll dig into its frightening regeneration, surprising speed, brutal attacks, and the psychology behind why experienced players feared them. We’ll also compare how trolls have changed over the years and why the original version still deserves its reputation as one of fantasy gaming’s greatest nightmares.

]]><![CDATA[Why D&D Gave Gods hit points ]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-d-and-d-gave-gods-hit-pointshttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-d-and-d-gave-gods-hit-pointsThu, 23 Jul 2026 13:01:56 GMT

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Did AD&D really let players kill the gods?

So back in AD&D years, TSR came out with a book called “Deities & Demigods”, in which almost any deity you could think of from all different types of mythology were listed, with full stats… which lead a lot of people to play the game of “if it has stats, we can kill it”. That’s one of the most common claims you’ll hear, but it’s not what Gary Gygax actually wrote. In this video, I am digging in to the WHY this was done, and the purpose of this book.. You MIGHT be surprised at what you hear and the reasoning behind it!

If you enjoy classic AD&D, Dungeons & Dragons history, and digging into the rules as they were originally written, you’re in the right place.

What are your thoughts? Did AD&D really give gods hit points, or have we all been reading it wrong?

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]]><![CDATA[The Power Armor that defined RIFTS...]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/the-power-armor-that-defined-riftshttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/the-power-armor-that-defined-riftsTue, 21 Jul 2026 23:47:40 GMT

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Before Mega-Damage. Before Boom Guns. Before you even understood the setting, there was one image that made players stop flipping through the RIFTS rulebook. The Glitter Boy. Sit back and enjoy a look at why I believe they were legendary...

This was a fun episode to jump into, after the RIFTS blew my mind episode. I think the Glitter Boy is the RIFTS icon. I was super happy when I saw Chaos Earth had him front and center, like a true patriot, holding that flag and defending earth.

Chaos Earth is probably one of my favorite, I guess you could call it setting books.. maybe call it, complete game? I’ve always enjoyed how it was set up, and people dealing with the disaster has it happens. I find that exciting when it comes to roleplaying games. When I ran a game of Dead Reign, which is Palladium’s Zombie apocalypse setting, I ran it from Day 0. Yes, you read that correctly, day 0. I had my players all play Ordinary survivors, which you can find in the book. It was a blast watching them react as things went down around them.

Anyhow, listen in!

]]><![CDATA[D&D Wants You to Play a Death Knight. AD&D Didn’t...]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/d-and-d-wants-you-to-play-a-deathhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/d-and-d-wants-you-to-play-a-deathThu, 16 Jul 2026 13:14:37 GMT

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In this episode of the Black Notebook Podcast, I compare the modern playtest’s approach with the original AD&D vision. Why did classic D&D keep the Death Knight firmly on the other side of the DM’s screen? Has modern D&D changed what monsters are supposed to be? And does turning legendary villains into player options make the game better, or does it take away some of the mystery?

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]]><![CDATA[Why Every D&D Party Needed Hirelings...]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-every-d-and-d-party-needed-hirelingshttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-every-d-and-d-party-needed-hirelingsThu, 09 Jul 2026 13:02:24 GMT

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Hirelings were never just background characters in AD&D 1st Edition. They carried torches, guarded the camp, hauled treasure, and sometimes saved the entire party from disaster. In this episode of The Black Notebook, I look at why hirelings were an expected part of the game, how they changed the way adventures played, and why so many modern groups have left them behind. If you've ever wondered why old school parties seemed so much larger than today's adventuring groups, this episode explains why.

I think they are valuable and add flavor to the campaign, do you think hirelings are useful, even in modern D&D games, or just a waste of coin?

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]]><![CDATA[Hook Horrors: The Monster You Hear Before You See]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/hook-horrors-the-monster-you-hearhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/hook-horrors-the-monster-you-hearThu, 02 Jul 2026 13:01:53 GMT

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What exactly made that sound in the dungeon?

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, we explore one of the oldest tricks in AD&D, using sound to build tension. From scratching behind a stone wall, to distant footsteps, strange whispers, and something breathing just beyond the torchlight, sound can create fear long before initiative is rolled. We’ll look at how Gary Gygax’s AD&D encouraged Dungeon Masters to create uncertainty, why players often imagine something far worse than the actual monster, and how a few simple audio descriptions can make every dungeon feel alive.

If you want your players to hesitate before opening the next door, this episode is for you.

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]]><![CDATA[Save or Die: Was Classic D&D Too Brutal?]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/save-or-die-was-classic-d-and-d-toohttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/save-or-die-was-classic-d-and-d-tooTue, 30 Jun 2026 13:06:53 GMT

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All it took was one bad roll.. and your character was dead. Gone. No longer ready to play… That’s how it was in old school D&D.

Today’s topic of the podcast, we are talking about one of the most debated mechanics (well maybe not the most, but up there) in Classic D&D, The Save or DIE! mechanic. Today, questions like, was it unfair? Was it bad game design? Or was it an important part of what made you as a player have that fear that your character turning the corner could result in instant death? We’ll also compare it to modern game design and ask whether something important was lost when instant death largely disappeared from tabletop RPGs.

SO, whether you love Save or Die or hate it, this mechanic shaped an entire generation of players and Dungeon Masters.

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]]><![CDATA[Tucker’s Kobolds, Why Weak Monsters Still Scare Players]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/tuckers-kobolds-why-weak-monstershttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/tuckers-kobolds-why-weak-monstersThu, 25 Jun 2026 13:04:09 GMT

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In today’s episode of the podcast, I decided after a suggestion from a listener, , who asked if I give my thoughts about Tucker’s Kobolds. Below I put the original article from Dragon #127. It was basically an editor’s note type thing, and it was a story about a DM named Tucker and how he used the Kobolds. He took a monster most DM’s use as fodder and made them into something the entire party feared for years to come.

Today we are talking about this on the podcast. Tell me your thoughts!

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]]><![CDATA[Orcs Were Terrifying… Here’s Why..]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/orcs-were-terrifying-heres-whyhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/orcs-were-terrifying-heres-whyThu, 18 Jun 2026 13:06:53 GMT

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Look, I am sure we all see Orcs as low-level cannon fodder, but it’s not really the case, and especially not in old-school D&D like AD&D. Orcs aren’t exactly pushovers if controlled correctly by the DM. They travel in groups, they hit hard, and often have strong allies to help back them up. If you see a small group of them, be certain to know there is normally a lot more from where they came from.

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I take a look at why orcs were genuinely feared in early AD&D, how they were presented in the rulebooks, and what made them such a serious threat to player characters. If you’ve ever wondered why old school players didn’t charge blindly into every fight, the answer may be waiting in an orc lair.

What are your memories of facing orcs in AD&D? Let me know in the comments.

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]]><![CDATA[Just Thinking... Trapped Offerings]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/just-thinking-trapped-offeringshttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/just-thinking-trapped-offeringsSun, 14 Jun 2026 01:21:56 GMT

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Thinking about an altar scene, one in an abandoned temple. Where the characters stumble upon it, and it’s empty. What’s their first instinct? Search it. After searching it and finding nothing. What do they do? they start placing things on top of it. Someone always does it.

Then when they put something on it, maybe it invites them into something further, like sliding to the side and opening a little door in the floor, with a Stairway down. Encouraging them to venture forth. The trick is it rewards them first. Then punishes them. I see it in play. They put a silver coin. The altar rumbles. Stairs appear. Torchlight flickers down. Excited voices. They all go.

Two rooms later, a check happens, and one character fails. Suddenly their strength is down a point, or maybe they notice they cast no shadow. I want it to feel like a trade they agreed to without reading the terms.

Maybe I could tie it to their encumbrance. Anytime they drop something on the altar, they start to feel a little lighter. it feels good. They drop an old shield, the altar takes it, and suddenly all their packs feel less heavy. It kind of tempting them to keep going. Do it a few times and have them keep feeding it. I’d track this as a DM, for every little bonus they get, a negative will happen on say the 4th or 5th time, but it wont be outright obvious. Maybe something from the altar is lurking in the shadows watching and the moment they stop offering up, it follows them, right out the dungeon to claim them as the final offering.

I dunno maybe I just crazy with weird ideas. You tell me?

]]><![CDATA[Why D&D Monsters Didn’t Fight to the Death]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-d-and-d-monsters-didnt-fighthttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-d-and-d-monsters-didnt-fightThu, 11 Jun 2026 13:18:24 GMT

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I’m sure some folks, especially old school gamers, that monsters didn’t just stand around and fight to the death like in an MMO. They actually did things like run away, or beg for mercy. Why? because we had a Morale rule. I think it's overlooked with modern D&D and I think its worth exploring in today’s topic.

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I take a look at monster morale, why it existed, how it made dungeons feel more alive, and why it created better adventures. Sometimes the most interesting monster in the dungeon is the one that survives the encounter.

Did your group use morale rules? Let me know in the comments.

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]]><![CDATA[Why Wandering Monsters Mattered..]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-wandering-monsters-matteredhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/why-wandering-monsters-matteredThu, 04 Jun 2026 13:02:35 GMT

Wandering monsters were never just random fights. In D&D, they created pressure. They drained resources. They punished wasted time. They stopped players from resting after every encounter and reminded everyone that the dungeon was alive.

I often am relaxed when it comes to wandering monsters in my dungeons, mostly because, well, sometimes I don’t want to deal with combat, and I want characters to explore things a little. I put time and effort into putting things into rooms; I want the characters to find these things. I feel like wandering monsters at times is just annoying. BUT I am WRONG; they are there to remind players their characters are never safe, and spending too much time exploring, making noise, and running about will surely attract “friends”. So take a listen to the podcast or the video and give me your thoughts on the situation.

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]]><![CDATA[Hopeless Characters, are NOT Hopeless...]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/hopeless-characters-are-not-hopelesshttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/hopeless-characters-are-not-hopelessMon, 01 Jun 2026 13:36:04 GMT

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Can a character with bad stats still matter in D&D?

In this episode, I talk about “Hopeless Characters” in old school D&D, using the Holmes Basic blurb and AD&D as the starting point. Bad ability scores do not always mean a bad character. Sometimes the weak fighter, the fragile magic-user, or the average nobody becomes the one everyone remembers.

This is about 3d6 character creation, survival, risk, and why old school D&D did not need every character to start as a hero.

]]><![CDATA[Dragons Were Meant To Be Avoided]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/dragons-were-meant-to-be-avoidedhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/dragons-were-meant-to-be-avoidedThu, 28 May 2026 13:03:59 GMT

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Dragons were never meant to be balanced encounters. They were ancient, intelligent, terrifying creatures that could wipe out careless adventurers in minutes. Somewhere along the way, dragons became treated like another monster to fight for treasure and XP. In this episode, I talk about how AD&D 1st Edition handled dragons, why fear and caution mattered, and why avoiding a dragon was often the smartest move a party could make.



We’ll look at morale, reaction rolls, negotiation, overwhelming power, and the old-school mindset that made dragons feel legendary instead of disposable boss fights. If your players charge every dragon head-on, this episode might change how you see these monsters forever.

]]><![CDATA[Does Low Intelligence Make Evil Stupid?]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/does-low-intelligence-make-evil-stupidhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/does-low-intelligence-make-evil-stupidMon, 25 May 2026 13:45:25 GMT

Today’s video and podcast is “Does Low Intelligence Make Evil Stupid?

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Low Intelligence does not make evil stupid. It changes how that evil shows up at the table. In this AD&D episode, I talk about why low Intelligence monsters and characters can still be dangerous, organized, loyal, cruel, and effective. Not every evil creature is a mastermind. Some are enforcers, raiders, followers, guards, and brutes who understand power, fear, orders, and punishment well enough to be a real threat.

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]]><![CDATA[Seriously, Gnolls are Creepy as heck..]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/seriously-gnolls-are-creepy-as-heckhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/seriously-gnolls-are-creepy-as-heckThu, 21 May 2026 13:03:39 GMT

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Gnolls in AD&D are more than just hyena men with axes. They sit in this strange place in the game where people underestimate them right up until the moment the party realizes they are being hunted. In this episode, I break down what makes gnolls work so well in old school play, where they came from, how Gary Gygax shaped them in AD&D 1st Edition, and why they feel different from orcs, goblins, and other common humanoids.

We dig into their origins tied back to Lord Dunsany’s “gnoles,” their savage pack behavior, and how to actually run them at the table so they feel dangerous. Not because of inflated stats, but because of pressure, numbers, morale, movement, and fear. A good gnoll encounter should feel messy. Loud. Fast. Like the players walked into something already watching them from the dark.

I also get into gnoll leaders, pack roles, Yeenoghu’s influence, and practical AD&D encounter design. Scouts circling the campfire. Retreating gnolls leading players deeper into danger. Warbands waiting just outside torchlight. This is the kind of stuff that turns a basic humanoid fight into something your group remembers for years.

If your gnolls still feel like hallway filler, this episode might change that.

]]><![CDATA[AD&D Magic Resistance is NOT what you think!]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/ad-and-d-magic-resistance-is-nothttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/ad-and-d-magic-resistance-is-notMon, 18 May 2026 12:33:49 GMT

Magic resistance in AD&D fundamentally changes how magic-users approach combat and how the table experiences tension. It is not a saving throw but a flat chance that a spell simply fails, which comes before any other effects or rolls. Lower-level casters face worse odds, as resistance scales against the standard of an 11th-level caster, making a 50% resistance actually 80% against a 5th-level magic-user and only 30% against a 15th-level one. At the table, this creates pressure and uncertainty. Players watch their spells fizzle and begin thinking in terms of probability, adjusting tactics: some double down and waste resources, others shift to scrolls, utilities, illusions, or non-magical options

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]]><![CDATA[Lawful Evil isn’t Stupid..]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/lawful-evil-isnt-stupidhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/lawful-evil-isnt-stupidThu, 14 May 2026 13:41:59 GMT

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Lawful Evil isn’t stupid. I’ve run a lot of villains who were smart, but I’ve also let “lawful evil” drift into cartoon territory. Iron-fisted tyrant. Obsessed cult leader. Someone the party can just stab and walk away from. But the truth is, a real lawful evil force plays the long game. It doesn’t waste resources. It bends the rules without breaking them. It thrives because people let it.

At the table, that means the players don’t get the satisfaction of a single obvious strike. The duke who starves the border villages isn’t dumb. He sends food when the king’s inspectors come. He promotes loyalists. He uses laws to trap rivals. He might even offer the party work. He probably should.

]]><![CDATA[The Druid is NOT a Nature Cleric]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/the-druid-is-not-a-nature-clerichttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/the-druid-is-not-a-nature-clericMon, 11 May 2026 12:35:27 GMT

People keep trying to turn the AD&D druid into a forest cleric with a different paint job. That misses the point completely.

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The druid in AD&D is strange. Isolated. Ritualistic. They are tied to old powers, ancient places, cycles, weather, stone circles, balance, and things that existed before kingdoms. A cleric serves a god through faith and structure. A druid serves nature itself, and nature in AD&D is not soft. Nature kills people every day. Storms drown villages. Wolves eat travelers. Winter wipes out the weak. The druid understands that balance matters more than comfort.

That changes how you should roleplay one.

A cleric walks into town and people usually know what they are looking at. A druid walks into town and people should feel uncertain. Maybe respected. Maybe nervous. Maybe suspicious. Druids are connected to places outside civilization. Sacred groves. Burial mounds. Swamps nobody crosses after dark. Old standing stones older than any kingdom nearby.

Mechanically, AD&D supports this separation hard.

Druids have different spell access. Different armor restrictions. Different weapons. They gain powers tied directly to nature. They shapechange. They identify plants and animals. They move through wilderness differently than other classes. Even their advancement system feels tribal and ancient. You do not just level up forever. You challenge other druids and take their place.

That is not “nature cleric.”

That is its own culture.

This matters at the table because if you treat druids like reskinned clerics, you flatten the class. Suddenly every druid becomes a healer with leaves on their cloak. AD&D gives you something far more interesting than that.

A druid can be calm and wise, sure. They can also be cold. Detached. Practical in brutal ways. They might let one village suffer because stopping a plague from spreading matters more. They might refuse to clear a forest for farmland because civilization expanding too far upsets the balance. They may even oppose good kingdoms if those kingdoms are destroying wild places.

That does not make them evil.

It makes them druids.

And honestly, that is what makes AD&D classes memorable. The classes are not balanced around equal combat rotations or matching utility. They are built around identity. The druid feels different because Gary and the early designers wanted classes to represent worldviews, not just mechanics.

You can see this in play immediately. A cleric enters a crypt carrying holy symbols and calling on divine power.

A druid enters the same crypt and feels like something old from the hills just walked underground for a reason. Completely different energy.

The spell list reinforces it too. Druids do not just get healing and protection. They command weather. Control plants. Summon nature. Speak with animals. Warp wood. Predict conditions. Their magic feels primal instead of organized. A high-level druid starts feeling closer to an ancient myth figure than a temple priest.

That is the sweet spot for the class.

If you want to make druids memorable in your AD&D game, stop thinking “nature cleric.” Start thinking ancient keeper of balance. Someone tied to forces older than kings and churches. Someone who respects life, but also understands death is part of the cycle too.

That mindset changes everything.

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]]><![CDATA[The AD&D Fighter Was Never Boring...]]>https://www.blacknotebook.org/p/the-ad-and-d-fighter-was-never-boringhttps://www.blacknotebook.org/p/the-ad-and-d-fighter-was-never-boringThu, 07 May 2026 12:46:47 GMT

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This is a look at what Fighters really did in classic AD&D, why they mattered, and why many modern players miss the point. If you enjoy old school gaming, Gygax era design, and practical talk about how these games actually played, this one is for you.

No the fighter was not boring.. sure it looks like it would be boring, but it’s really not. The fighter is the one who holds the line, barks orders during combat and organizes the hirelings. Its more then swinging sword, its tactics and group survival.

Check out this video as I explore the why’s and how’s of the fighter. After the video, come back and comment on what you think!

Follow me here for more episodes on AD&D, classic roleplaying games, TSR era design, monsters, classes, and forgotten rules.

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