The Grinning Wyrm D&D

The name's Basalt | He/They | I do art and homebrew!

[basalt-dnd]

I apologize for the impatience, but I'm devastated at the removal of your links from DropBox, as I've JUST started a new campaign and JUST gotten a new computer, so I don't have the images anymore. Is there any way you could fax me the compendium? If not fax, email is fine, too!

Thank you for letting me know that it went down! Unfortunately, I wasn't running my own DropBox... as such, I'm not sure I have everything that was on there (although it should still be here! Just... at the mercy of Tumblr's terrible search function)

You're looking for the underwater adventures compendium, yeah? Or is there something else from the DropBox you were looking for? If it was the underwater adventures, I still have the pages hosted on Google Drive for now.

If you're looking for something else specific, let me know and I'll try to hunt it down!

Edit: I've switched my page tab to display my Tumblr directory instead of the defunct DropBox. If you can't see the tab on your device, I've linked it here.

[thelukewarmyeti]

Thank you for the directory! I don't know if I'm incompetent or blind, but I couldn't find it on my own, haha! After looking through the directory, you have everything there that I wanted! Thank you so much!

[basalt-dnd]

Glad to help! And you aren't incompetent or blind! I just re-added it to my blog theme. Tumblr is notorious for breaking links or shifting them around when they're in long lists, so I removed it when the DropBox was made because (at the time) the DropBox fixed that issue and seemed like a better option.

But now that it's no longer an option, I dusted off the old directory! The added bonus of the old directory is the sorting. It's not fully updated, but monsters are sorted by CR, environment, and creature type.

I would definitely take CR (and item rarity) with a grain of salt-- I mean, CR in base D&D can be dubious already, but I've definitely made my share of "way too weak for its CR" monsters and "way too fucked up for its CR" monsters.

[basalt-dnd]

(The 'way too fucked up' part is not vultek's HP or damage but how lapide sepsis can cause relatively fast-acting and massively character-altering effects with cures only narrowly within level reach. It's reasonably easy to deal with if you catch it fast, but if you don't know about the disease within the first minute... Heal only becomes accessible to Druids and Clerics at level 11, and good luck if multiple of your party members or NPCs get affected! This is arguably still less egregious than Intellect Devourers and Shadows. But why'd I do that!)

[basalt-dnd]

I apologize for the impatience, but I'm devastated at the removal of your links from DropBox, as I've JUST started a new campaign and JUST gotten a new computer, so I don't have the images anymore. Is there any way you could fax me the compendium? If not fax, email is fine, too!

Thank you for letting me know that it went down! Unfortunately, I wasn't running my own DropBox... as such, I'm not sure I have everything that was on there (although it should still be here! Just... at the mercy of Tumblr's terrible search function)

You're looking for the underwater adventures compendium, yeah? Or is there something else from the DropBox you were looking for? If it was the underwater adventures, I still have the pages hosted on Google Drive for now.

If you're looking for something else specific, let me know and I'll try to hunt it down!

Edit: I've switched my page tab to display my Tumblr directory instead of the defunct DropBox. If you can't see the tab on your device, I've linked it here.

[thelukewarmyeti]

Thank you for the directory! I don't know if I'm incompetent or blind, but I couldn't find it on my own, haha! After looking through the directory, you have everything there that I wanted! Thank you so much!

[basalt-dnd]

Glad to help! And you aren't incompetent or blind! I just re-added it to my blog theme. Tumblr is notorious for breaking links or shifting them around when they're in long lists, so I removed it when the DropBox was made because (at the time) the DropBox fixed that issue and seemed like a better option.

But now that it's no longer an option, I dusted off the old directory! The added bonus of the old directory is the sorting. It's not fully updated, but monsters are sorted by CR, environment, and creature type.

I would definitely take CR (and item rarity) with a grain of salt-- I mean, CR in base D&D can be dubious already, but I've definitely made my share of "way too weak for its CR" monsters and "way too fucked up for its CR" monsters.

[basalt-dnd]

Omg I'm happy to see your content again! I literally checked your tumbler a few days ago and was sad that you hadn't done anything since 2024!

Aw, thanks! Admittedly I've still been a little busy to make anything new, but I should become much less busy very soon ^^;

[basalt-dnd]

When I was younger, I used to imagine monsters running alongside the car. I decided to make stats (and a little sketch!) for them. 

[basalt-dnd]

The lore text on this page reads:

RUNALONGS

A runalong is a mysterious, smoky creature that travels beside carts, ships, and other moving vehicles, Most are entirely indifferent to those they travel beside, they just happen to be using the same path. Others actively pursue caravans and ships, either to hunt the passengers or purely ‘out of interest in examining the vehicle.

Bizarre Sightings. Runalongs are all but invisible to most people. They appear as slight shifts in the air, like a gust of sea wind beside a ship. Only a few select creatures can see the true form of a Runalong:

Children can see runalongs, until about a year before they each their race's maturity.

Small and tiny beasts, like cats and mice, can see Runalongs.

Adult humanoids with a level of exhaustion of more can see runalongs.

Many Forms. A runalong doesn’t have an immutable form. There are three main types of runalongs: Land, Avian, and Aquatic. At the end of a Long Rest, it can transform into another form if it so chooses.

Land form runatongs tend to look like large, wolf-like or catlike creatures. Sometimes, they appear as horse-like or humanoid-like creatures. They are fast, skilled jumpers, and persistent in their chase. These runalongs can be sighted following carriages, wagons, carts, and other land vehicles.

Avian runalongs tend to look like large. eagle-like or wyvern-like creatures. They are more looming, likely to be seen from a distance. These runabongs can be sighted almost anywhere.

Aquatic runalongs tend to look like large. serpent-like or fish-like creatures. They leap from the water to track or investigate their quarry. These runalongs can be sighted beside boats, whether traversing small rivers or in the open ocean.

Uncertain Origins. Adult humanoids can't see runalongs, so they're most often regarded as a myth rather than a real monster. They're written off as figments of children's imagination. Even the few adults who believe in them have difficulty researching them or obtaining evidence of them. This mysterious nature means that no one knows their exact origins.

[basalt-dnd]

Okay, I re-added my tumblr directory tab to my page. If your device doesn't show tabs / themes, here's a link.

[basalt-dnd]

I apologize for the impatience, but I'm devastated at the removal of your links from DropBox, as I've JUST started a new campaign and JUST gotten a new computer, so I don't have the images anymore. Is there any way you could fax me the compendium? If not fax, email is fine, too!

Thank you for letting me know that it went down! Unfortunately, I wasn't running my own DropBox... as such, I'm not sure I have everything that was on there (although it should still be here! Just... at the mercy of Tumblr's terrible search function)

You're looking for the underwater adventures compendium, yeah? Or is there something else from the DropBox you were looking for? If it was the underwater adventures, I still have the pages hosted on Google Drive for now.

If you're looking for something else specific, let me know and I'll try to hunt it down!

Edit: I've switched my page tab to display my Tumblr directory instead of the defunct DropBox. If you can't see the tab on your device, I've linked it here.

[basalt-dnd]

from now on I'm distributing my homebrew exclusively through fax

[basalt-dnd]

what if I just make a website at this point

[basalt-dnd]

Given the uh. state of tumblr, and the fact that it was never particularly designed for this type of blog to begin with (see: the directories I made never working properly because of tumblr link shenanigans)... what are good alternatives?

I was thinking about a Substack (free, of course) but I don't know much about it

Edit: Nvm about Substack, it looks like their content moderation is awful

[basalt-dnd]

Hi there, I’m a beginning DM and I love the “D&D achievements” you made. Is it okay if I print them out and use them for my campaign?

Go for it! It's what they're for :D

[carlburton]

Ikea’s modular sofa designer is Game of the Year

[judgejudyofficial]

my longcouch is perfectly constructed

[basalt-dnd]

Dungeon Maker

[basalt-dnd]

Been thinking about changing my url because I want to make more system-neutral and non-d&d homebrew but also I really don’t want to have to update all the links in my directory

[thedandeliongarden]

The sooner you make the change, the less painful it’ll be

Am I biased? Absolutely yes, my forgiveness to Wizards of the Coast will be coming approximately never. But it is an important shift to make TTRPGs discourse more system agnostic even if you have gotten past the OGL debacle

[basalt-dnd]

Fortunately no part of this is sentimentality and I’ve played other systems

I’m just lazy and don’t wanna redo 500+ links, but you’re right that it’ll only get worse if I make more ^^;

But yeah fuck WoTC

[basalt-dnd]

Been thinking about changing my url because I want to make more system-neutral and non-d&d homebrew but also I really don’t want to have to update all the links in my directory

[thepleasuregoblin]

you can always steal from wizards of the coast. it's always morally correct.

[vulpixelates]

attention, d&d dorks

which way do you fill out your character sheets?

left (score in big slot)

right (bonus in big slot)

a secret third option (??? explain)

Voting ended onApr 26, 2023

yada yada rb to get a bigger sample size, you know the drill

[basalt-dnd]

I found your Runalong creature via Tumbler, but I cant seem to find the original post you made that for. I'd love to be able to get a download or pdf of your monster for use in my campaign, is that something that is possible?

This is the original Runalong post, plus Runaways!

[keplercryptids]

if you've never considered playing anything other than D&D 5e, now might be the time to start.

as you may have heard, Wizards of the Coast wrote up a new Open Game License that was leaked and it's really, really bad. (i linked to the article about it yesterday but here's a twitter thread of the author of that article summarizing it.)

i'll attempt my own breakdown of what this means here:

the new OGL revokes the previous OGL. this is bad for so many reasons, and will affect all kinds of TTRPGs like Pathfinder, and third-party publishers like Kobold's Press.

it also means that character sheets wouldn't be able to be used in unauthorized virtual table tops anymore, including Roll20, Foundry, etc.

the new OGL grants WotC a perpetual, irrevocable license to all third-party content produced and published under the old OGL, as well as future content. for example, if WotC hypothetically liked Dimension 20's Unsleeping City setting enough, it could sell products related to that setting, without needing D20's permission.

the new OGL can be updated, changed or revoked with only 30 days' notice. truly wild.

anybody who makes more than $750k revenue (not profit, but revenue) has to pay 20-25% over that amount in royalties to WotC. this will affect so many kickstarters raising funds for indie TTRPG systems that used to fall under the original OGL. $750k sounds like a lot but keep in mind publishing books is expensive.

this is really, really bad. WotC will probably go back on some of this based on public response, and a lawsuit may make them go back on even more. (some of what they're trying to do here is illegal? i think?) but they'll likely still push forward with some of it.

it seems WotC's goal is to 1) appease shareholders (which in late-stage capitalism means "exponential growth forever") and 2) create a closed ecosystem for d&d that's completely under WotC's financial control. think: D&D Beyond being the only place you can access any D&D content, character sheets, etc. and i mean, in general, they've shown a pattern of greed and weighing corporate interests more heavily than their customers or employees.

now would be a great time to move away from d&d if you've ever considered doing so, or to consider it if you haven't.

if you want something similar to d&d 5e mechanically but a bit crunchier, try pathfinder 2e. if you want narrative-focused storytelling games, try Powered by the Apocalypse or FATE systems. if you want a mechanics-forward episodic style of play, try Forged in the Dark systems. if you want a cross-genre game with freeform character creation, try Savage Worlds. and this is an extreme short list of the great TTRPGs out there! a lot of systems that, IMO, people would have more fun playing than d&d, just based on preferred style of play. try them out and please don't give WotC anymore money lol.