iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Thanks for the laugh and the good word!

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Thanks, Teos. Much appreciated !

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When I click publish and look at my latest post, I inevitably, immediately find mistakes. In this case, I misspelled the name of the D&D franchise head. 😳

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Wizards of the Coast Announces More D&D for Everyone, but Not All of It’s for You

When I realized that my reaction to the D&D announcement would be ready so late, I considered scrapping the post. But in my biased opinion, I had some interesting and slightly controversial things to say. dmdavid.com/tag/wizards-...

dmdavid.com

At Gen Con, Dungeons & Dragons franchise head Dan Ayob joined various D&D team members and stars connected with D&D to reveal future plans for the game and franchise. They announced mor…

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 03/08/2026

I just checked the ticket situation at the one Chicagoland theater showing The Odyssey in 70mm IMAX. Even the 2:30am week day showings are sold out deep into September. I suppose I can wait until October.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 31/07/2026

As cool as the show was, my favorite announcement was improved search on D&D beyond I hope I can search for tiny hut without finding 10 adventures with huts at the top of search

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The D&D team spent big on this spectacle and it shows! I hope Hazbro’s ROI guys never find out

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A sun appears on the video screen at the D&D keynote. Dark?

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I remember the 3e and 4e announcements. Just a big room with chairs. Now we have a spectacle with a soundtrack, a set and stars! Of course 3e had t-shirts and a Gary Gygax appearance, so that was fun

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Security is tight at the D&D keynote. D&D hasn’t felt so dangerous since the 80s

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The field of play at Lucas Oil Stadium, Gen Con

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 26/07/2026

Here for the big game. You know, D&D and so on

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So true! I’ve long included her in an assortment for new players to use for their characters and she got picked more than any other.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 26/07/2026

I’m gathering miniatures for the games I’m DMing at Gen Con. Here are 4 aspects of Venin, Grim Hollow’s Arch Daemon of Deception. Which is real?

4 miniature figures of women in blue dresses

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 21/07/2026

By the way, the third-level fighter I'm playing Thursday has 1 + 3 + 3 = 7 hp. He really should have followed advice and become a tailor.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 21/07/2026

Empire of the Petal Throne, TSR's 1975 D&D successor, has players reroll all their PC's hit dice at every level. When playing OSR games, I hate fragile PCs saddled with low hp through their career based on bad, early hp rolls, so I like this improvement. The vague OD&D rules even allow the method.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 09/07/2026

Just got my Gen Con judge schedule. I’m running Spies in the House of Many Eyes, the Grim Hollow adventure that I wrote, Fri, Sat, and Sun morning. Plus I have GH 2-2: Worse than the Disease on Sat afternoon. I prepped that for GameHole, but didn’t get to run it. I’m very happy with this line up!

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Reposted by DM David Hartlage

Dyson Logos @dysonlogos.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I took the classic S1 Tomb of Horrors adventure and completely rebuilt the map. The structure is actually the same, but the topology of the map has been completely changed. dysonlogos.blog/2026/06/28/d...

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Reposted by DM David Hartlage

d20play @d20play.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I hope to see you all there on Tuesday! youtube.com/live/pA3U84l...

youtube.com

DnD ENCOUNTERS with Shawn Merwin - d20play Live 104

YouTube video by d20play

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 28/06/2026

A while back I thought about getting a phoenix mini for an adventure, so I shopped the Elder Elemental Phoenix figure. At $179, I skipped it. Now that WizKids put it on sale for $54, I splurged. I totally failed to appreciate its massive size. I’m going to need a bigger adventure.

Phoenix miniature towers over ogre and summoner figures

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 25/06/2026

I ran it a few times in a 4-hour convention slot. When 3 hours passed, the time came for a not-so-random encounter with the bad guy the party came to defeat. One of my favorite con mods! This photo dates to one of those games in 2016. 10 years ago. Damn

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 25/06/2026

DDEX315 Szith Morcane Unbound by Robert Adducci fascinates me because although it’s an Adventurers League mod, its design targets home play with a big open dungeon complete with random encounters.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 25/06/2026

Pulling out some old maps, I came across this one of Dengor’s Palace from DDEX315 Szith Morcane Unbound. Opal the cat found it inviting

A cat walks on a hand-drawn, gridded D&D battle map of a cavern

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 24/06/2026

Has anyone run or played The Whispering Cairn from Dungeon magazine? I know it’s very well regarded.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 18/06/2026

Hey cool! Those are the copies on my shelf

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 13/06/2026

This is what I wrote for now. _Tactics._ If any characters are Frightened, then the [creatures] favor their melee attacks over more uses of _Fear._ This keeps the encounter from becoming a tedious series of Wisdom saves.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 13/06/2026

As I write an adventure for organized play, I have a question for DMs: The party faces 3-4 monsters with the ability to cast fear 3 times each. Are you spamming fear because that's the way to "win," or are you using it more sparingly, say once per turn.

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Reposted by DM David Hartlage

MechTexas @mechtexas.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Is DnD 5e too lenient? Almost boring? Usually yes. But these Sithicus Ashes of the Black Rose adventures are HUMBLING me. Watch me and @dmdavid.com run from DM @d20play.bsky.social and try to survive!

youtu.be

DnD Actual Play ASHES OF THE BLACK ROSE Curse of Strahd and Confession and Consolation

YouTube video by d20play

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 30/05/2026

How our Crows game with @d20play.bsky.social went: Check out our tokens after just travelling to the dungeon. Those skulls mean everyone is either boned or double boned. Later: Many dead PCs Crows is brutal and fun

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 26/05/2026

Mapmakers: turns out you can fit an entire spiral staircase in a 5-foot square

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 26/05/2026

Down into the dungeon Not sure where to stow my 10-foot pole

A narrow spiral staircase constructed of timeworn stone descends into darkness

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 25/05/2026

Anecdote from Bulgarian tour guide: My son, he says to me, “We don’t get old anymore; we just level up.” I know that’s via video games, but it still has me thinking about the reach of Dave & Gary’s creation.

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 25/05/2026

Belogradchik Fortress in Bulgaria dates back to the Romans and substitutes natural rock formations for some walls. Real world D&D inspiration

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DM David Hartlage @dmdavid.com · 16/05/2026

Today, playing a Druid, I turned into a horse and attempted a test of strength by saying, “I will pull the woman from her wax prison using horsepower!” That’s living the dream

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Reposted by DM David Hartlage

d20play @d20play.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Here are our planning notes for the 2012 D&D championship GEN CON. I had so much fun with the opens and championships. We took that shit serious!

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No notes I’m sorry to say

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Players formed teams and played the same adventure. The highest-scoring teams advanced through rounds of competition. The A1-4 Slavers adventures come from the multiple rounds of a 1980 D&D tournament. For a sense of the scoring, look at the TOURNAMENT SCORING page in Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan.

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Here are better pictures of the finale

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I saved 4 characters from the 2012 D&D championship at Gen Con. Here’s a shot of the final showdown. I love that the DM came equipped with at least 2 Balors!

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