The Evil Dungeon Master Universe

In this episode, I dig into the Vanish spell from AD&D. It is a seventh-level alteration spell that lets a magic-user remove objects, doors, and even themselves from existence... by slipping into the ethereal plane. I cover how it works, what makes it different from Teleport or Passwall, and how you can use it for escapes, heists, ambushes, or long-lost dungeon tricks. It is subtle. It is dangerous. It is forgotten. Not anymore...

In this episode, I dig into the Dire Corby from the Fiend Folio, an aggressive, bird like creature that charges screaming from the shadows with claws and no fear. I talk about how to use them in your campaign, from ambush flocks in deep caves to rivals of the drow or goblins. Whether you need a brutal combat encounter or a strange mystery in the Underdark, the Dire Corby delivers one thing loud and clear... Doom.

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In this episode, I take a look at an interesting magic item in AD&D, the Talisman of Pure Good. With just a single command, a Cleric can open a flaming crack beneath an evil cleric and send them straight to the planet’s core. I break down how it works, who it targets, and why this seven-charge stone is one of the most extreme alignment-based items in the game. If you thought alignment was just for flavor... this will change you...

Today's episode is an email request from "Death Metal!".

Most seventh-level spells in AD&D are flashy. Fireballs, force cages, prismatic sprays. Then there’s Phase Door. It doesn’t explode. It doesn’t kill. It just opens a way through solid stone that no one else can see or use. In this episode, I break down how to use Phase Door as a clever tool for escapes, ambushes, heists, and wizard duels. This is the spell yo...

The Gaund, created by Ed Greenwood and found in Dragon Magazine issue 46, is not your typical cave monster. It’s fast, it climbs, it leaps, and it sprays acid. In this episode, I talk about how to drop Gaunds into your game in a way that makes players nervous every time they hear a dripping sound in the dark. Whether you're looking for a brutal ambush, a volcanic lair encounter, or a twisted pet in the hands of a mad wizard, th...

Not all dragons are fire and fury. The Electrum Dragon, introduced by Ed Greenwood in Dragon Magazine 74, is a rare, spellcasting creature that values thought over treasure and dialogue over bloodshed. In this episode, I explore how to use this Neutral Good dragon in your AD&D campaign, not as a monster, but as a mentor, oracle, or moral challenge. From gas breath that confuses to spellbooks and unhatched eggs, this is a dragon...

Hidden in the back of the AD&D Player’s Handbook is a section most people skipped. Psionics. A secret mental power system that only a few characters ever got, filled with attack modes, defense modes, and powers that feel more like a comic book than a fantasy game. In this episode, I explore what Psionics actually were, how they worked, and why most players never used them. Was it ahead of its time or just totally out of place?

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Cold. Calculated. Lawful Evil. The AD&D Assassin is a class built around stealth, disguise, and sanctioned murder. So why did most DMs quietly ignore it? In this episode, I take a look at what the Assassin was supposed to be, how the mechanics actually worked, and why it never found a comfortable place in most groups. Was it too evil? Too specific? Or just ahead of its time?

#adnd #tsr #gygax

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The AD&D Monk was always the odd class out. Weird powers, bad survivability, and advancement rules that made players give up by level five. But in Dragon Magazine #53, they tried to fix it. Did they succeed? In this episode, I break down the proposed changes, including new XP tables, expanded monk abilities, and optional advancement rules. It’s all here...fists, flowers, and frustration. So, did Dragon Magazine save the Monk… o...

The Monk is one of the most interesting classes in the game, but yet not a lot of people play a Monk. d4 hit points, no armor, limited weapons, and yet it’s expected to fight on the front lines. In this episode, I dig into what the Monk actually was, how its abilities worked, and why almost nobody picked it at the table. Was it secretly awesome, or just a confused martial artist dropped into a game of knights and wizards?

#ADnD1e #A...

This is kind of a follow up episode where I am talking about some of the comments I've been seeing about the thief class and pondering about it. Low hit points, weak armor, and a skill list that rarely worked… the AD&D 1st Edition Thief had a rough start. But was it really useless, or just misunderstood? In this episode, I look at the numbers, the role at the table, and why the Thief may have been more important than people gav...

You earned the XP. You survived the dungeon. You're ready to level up. Not so fast, this is AD&D 1st Edition. In today’s episode, we take a look at the infamous training cost rules buried in the DMG. Gold, time, instructors... and even alignment-based fees? I break down what the rule actually said, why it made sense on paper, and why most tables completely ignored it. Was it genius, nonsense, or both? Tune in and decide for...

In this episode, I take a hard look at the original AD&D 1st Edition Fighter. No spells. No tricks. Just steel, grit, and hit points. Was it enough? Or did the Fighter fall behind as the game scaled up? I’ll break down what made the Fighter strong, where it stumbled, and why it’s still worth playing when the dice hit the table. Whether you’re rolling 3d6 down the line or wielding a vorpal sword, this one’s for the old-school br...

In this episode, I crack open Deities & Demigods and dig into those legendary stat blocks, from Strength 19 to a god-tier 25... and what those numbers actually do. Then we head to Dragon Magazine #67, where Gygax updates the standard powers of the gods. To top it off, I share a tale from my campaign about the time my character took the long, divine road to demigod-hood under the guidance of the one and only Joe DM.

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In this episode, I spotlight one of AD&D’s most gruesome and underused monsters—the Assassin Bug. It paralyzes victims, implants eggs, and unleashes a swarm of death from the inside out. I break down how to use it for maximum dread, from cursed noble houses to larval horrors in the city sewers. Perfect for DMs who want body horror without homebrewing a thing.

#ADnD #TTRPGHorror #OSRGaming #OldSchoolMonsters #MonsterSpotlight #Du...

Today’s episode is about the enchanting (or annoying) leprechauns! These small, magical beings are known for their mischievous nature and love for lush, green landscapes. With a unique ability to become invisible and create illusions, leprechauns are never easy to catch! Did you know they snatch valuable objects from unsuspecting adventurers with a 75% success rate? Even more fascinating is their cleverness, if you find them in the...