Mage Advice

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🇬🇧 Based account celebrating D&D and other ttrpgs. Free ideas, tips and advice every Wednesday at mageadvice.substack.com

Optional rule: “You're on mute.” Whenever playing online and any individual attempts to speak while muted in some way, any other player can shout “You're on mute.” The first person to do so gains the power of “Mute”...

I like the efficiency of Daggerheart's magic items tables (120 items across 5 pages)… but it does feel a little less special than the layout of D&D's Dungeon Master's Guide, with colour art for most pieces and big text blocks. Which do you prefer?

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The Arches of Aoskar, Room 23 The entire room is filled with a scale model of a circus ring, however instead of performers are beautifully painted eggs. At the centre is an Oni in a top hat and red tail coat: "come and enjoy the show!"

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Nineteen A large pool has been created in the centre of this room, filled by fresh, rose-scented water from an unknown source that keeps it at an invitingly warm temperature.

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Seventeen. The room is laid out like a checker board, with each black square filled with a matching iron bound chest. A scroll nailed to the door reads: "Of course, most of these are mimics, but one contains a deck of many things."

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Sixteen. The room is empty except for a large archway made of skulls. Beneath it is chained a large black hound with three glowing red eyes: "I am that which remains, free me and I may guide your path through this maze." - Dungeonary: One room a day for a month

The Arches of Aoskar, Room Fifteen. The room is filled with a pile of broken bricks that block your passage as you realise the ceiling has collapsed. There is just enough gap above the pile to see dim torchlight the other side and the sound of an old man gently crying:

An inky purple void swirls in the centre of the room. --- Anyone who touches the void disappears for 2D4 minutes and returns with no memory of the experience, but is covered in a light dusting of ash containing flecks of burnt parchment.

You enter a well furnished dormitory, with comfortable beds on offer. In a small kitchen area, large mugs magically fill with relaxing hot chocolate. --- The room is cursed, every 59 minutes a klaxon sounds interrupting all resting creatures.

Round tables and comfortable chairs are overlooked by a sleek bar bearing steaming equipment. Every available chair is taken by relaxing halflings, while a team of gnome baristas make and serve coffee. Whats on the specials board - and what magical effect does it have?

Illustrations cover the walls around a comfortable looking chair next to a desk filled with tattooing equipment. A Marilith smiles at you, each of her hands holding a needle: "want to get inked?"

Nine cages are placed facing each other in a circle, each containing a Kobold. They introduce themselves in turn: Barek, Direk, Eerek, Gorek, Irek, Jorek, Keyrek, Morek and Trek - and claim they have the key to the exit door which they will exchange for their freedom.

On a dirty floor, an infernal summoning circle has been drawn in chalk and bone. The remains of five candles long since burnt out surround a scorched skeleton. Sulphurous footsteps lead through a smudged rune to the exit door. The Arches of Aoskar, Room Six - Dungeonary: One room a day for a month

Slick ice coats coats every surface of this room, where carcasses frozen solid hang from huge meat hooks in the ceiling. A dull repetitive thudding sound comes from a bare chested frost giant who is using one of the carcasses as a punching bag. He looks at you and says: "You want to be a contender?"