Ernie Noa's RPG Blog

  X1 The Isle of Dread - A 5e Conversion Guide with Maps https://www.dmsguild.com/product/413313/X1-The-Isle-of-Dread--A-5e-Conversion-Guide-with-Maps This is a 5e D&D conversion of the various monsters, creatures, spells, magic items, and encounters for the classic D&D module X1 The Isle of Dread.  The original module, the Monster Manual, and either Volo’s Guide to Monsters or Monsters of the Multiverse are required to use this conversion guide.  Appendix A: Of Ships and the Sea in Ghosts of Saltmarsh may be helpful but is not required. The adventure is for characters who are levels 3-6. The following digital maps have been included at 70 DPI.  Grid and no grid options have been included.     Two variants of each map have been provided. Continental Map 8192 x 14000 Isle of Dread Players Map 2550 x 3300 Isle of Dread DMs Map 2550 x 3300 Central Plataeu 4130 x 3990 Pirate Lair with cave and tunnels Pirate Lair without cave and tunnels General Ca...

How I Prep for my Weekly Gaming Session My long-term campaign prep and short-term weekly prep are quite different.  The long-term campaign prep is more intensive early on and is ongoing throughout the campaign.   The weekly prep is relatively short and quick but the long and short-term prep definitely influence one another.  Short Term \ Weekly Prep Prep for the next game takes place during the current game.  I take notes as I go.  Names, professions, and locations of key NPCs, particularly unexpected or improvised NPCs are written down. Magic items picked up by the party are noted.  The date and time of the end of the session are also noted.  I am pretty confident I can remember what happened in the session and do need to write that down during the current game.   My notes are quick and dirt, usually a bulleted list and just a few words, rarely complete sentences. During the off week, I create an outline for the next sessions.  ...

  https://www.dmsguild.com/product/409692/L1-The-Secret-of-Bone-Hill--5e-Conversion-Guide-with-Maps Please enjoy this 5e D&D conversion of the various monsters, creatures, magic items, and encounters for the classic D&D module L1 The Secret of Bone Hill.  The original module, the Monster Manual, and the Dungeon Masters Guide are required to use this conversion guide.  This 30 page conversion guide includes conversions of each location and encounter, maps, new monsters and NPCs as well as new magic items.   The original adventure is available for purchase on DMs Guild. The following digital maps have been included at 70 DPI.  Grid and no grid options have been included.     Two variants of each map have been provided. Map of the Wilderness The Village of Restenford Bone Hill Castle Ruins Castle Bone Hill Castle Ruins 2nd Floor Bone Hill Castle Ruins 3rd Floor Bone Hill Castle Ruins Basement Bone Hill Castle Ruins Lower Level Guard St...

  https://www.dmsguild.com/product/406088/Q1-Queen-of-the-Demonweb-Pits--5e-Conversion-Guide-with-Maps Please enjoy this 5e D&D conversion of the various monsters, creatures, spells, magic items, and encounters for the classic D&D module Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits.  The original module, the Monster Manual, and either Volo’s Guide to Monsters or Monsters of the Multiverse are required to use this conversion guide. The original adventure is available for purchase on DMs Guild. The following digital maps have been included at 70 DPI. Grid and no grid options have been included. Two variants of each map have been provided. Demonweb Variant A Demonweb Variant B Demonweb Level 1 – Room 1 Demonweb Level 1 – Room 2 Demonweb Level 1 – Room 3 Demonweb Level 1 – Room 4 Demonweb Level 2 – Room 5 Demonweb Level 2 – Room 6 Demonweb Level 2 – Room 6 Demonweb Level 2 – Room 7 Demonweb Level 3 – Room 8 Demonweb Level 3 – Room 9 Demonweb Level 3 – Room 10 Demonweb Level 3 – Room 11 ...

  UPDATED: 6/17/2024 I create maps for Dungeons and Dragons for my own custom world and for many 5e conversions I post for sale on DMs Guild . I have piles of hand-drawn maps from the 80s and 90s over the past 10 to 20 years I have tried many mapping programs and settled on a few favored pieces of software.   Dungeondraft by Megasploot Dungeondraft by Megasploot is my favorite mapping program for dungeons, small wilderness areas, and battle maps.    It is easy to learn and I can knock out a good-looking map in a few hours or less depending on what I am trying to create.  It comes with a healthy number of textures and assets.  Free assets can easily be created and added or purchased from 3rd parties.     The learning curve is low, the price is low and the software is fast and flexible.  It is possible to bring in an image and trace or draw over it, using it as a guide or template.  This works well, but if the old map has a grid...

Two years ago most Gen Con events were virtual due to the Covid pandemic. I signed up for several sessions by Ben Riggs about the fall of TSR and the purchase of the company by Wizards of the Coast. Ben was an engaging and knowledgeable presenter, and I watched most of his sessions twice. I was very excited to hear he was publishing a book based on his research and this year the book was slated for release on my birthday. "Slaying the Dragon A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons" was at the top of my Amazon wish list and I was thrilled to receive a copy. With my own gaming preparation and 5e conversion efforts I do not get through as many books as I used to, but I absolutely devoured this enjoyable book. Mr. Riggs's writing is as engaging as the presentations I attended two years ago and the book is full of informative and interesting stories about the rise and fall of TSR. I enthusiastically recommend purchasing this book to anyone interested in learnin...

  N1 Against the Cult of the Reptile God - 5e Conversion Guide with Maps - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild (dmsguild.com) Please enjoy this 5e D&D conversion of the various monsters, creatures, magic items, and encounters for the classic D&D module N1 Against the Cult of the Reptile God.  The original module, the Monster Manual, and the Dungeon Masters Guide are required to use this conversion guide. The original adventure is available for purchase on DMs Guild. The following digital maps have been included at 70 DPI.  Grid and no grid options have been included.     Two variants of each map have been provided. The Village of Orlane The Golden Grain Inn Inn of the Slumbering Serpent Temple of Merikka – Ground Floor Temple of Merikka – Upper Floor Temple of Merikka – Cellar The Dungeon of the Reptile God – Level 1 (two variations) The Dungeon of the Reptile God – Level 2 (two variations)