The Black Notebook Podcast

The Evil DM's Podcasts
  • 5.0 (4)
  • GAMES
  • UPDATED DAILY

Welcome to the Black Notebook. A working DM’s notebook. D&D prep, campaign notes, rules breakdowns, and media worth stealing from for Old School Gamers!

  1. Empty Rooms Are Not Empty...

    APR 22

    Empty Rooms Are Not Empty...

    Empty rooms get skipped. That’s the problem. In this episode, you look at what an “empty” room actually does at the table. Sound, dust, air, light, and layout all carry information. Players read those details and make choices. That changes pacing, tension, and how the dungeon feels. You get practical ways to run empty spaces so they build pressure, signal danger, and make the next encounter hit harder. #ADND #DungeonMaster #TTRPG

    16 min
  2. Bonus Episode - Let’s Chat About Gold for XP in AD&D

    APR 17 ·  BONUS

    Bonus Episode - Let’s Chat About Gold for XP in AD&D

    Gold for XP is not just an old rule. It is the engine that drives how the game actually plays. In this episode, we break down what happens when experience is tied to treasure instead of kills. Players stop chasing fights. They start making smarter calls. They explore with purpose, avoid bad encounters, and focus on getting in and out alive. You will hear how this one rule shifts pacing, decision making, and the feel of the dungeon without changing anything else. If your table feels stuck in combat loops, this is the fix that might change everything. #ADnD #TabletopRPG #DungeonMaster

    13 min
  3. Let's Chat about Encumbrance Rules in AD&D

    APR 15

    Let's Chat about Encumbrance Rules in AD&D

    Let’s chat about encumbrance rules in AD&D and why they often miss the mark at the table. On paper, tracking every coin, torch, and piece of gear sounds like it should add tension. In practice, it slows the game down, turns sessions into math checks, and pulls focus away from exploration and decision-making. This episode looks at what those rules were trying to do, and what actually happens when you use them as written. You will hear where the friction shows up, how it affects pacing, and why many groups quietly drop or bend the system just to keep play moving. #ADnD #TabletopRPG #DungeonMaster

    16 min
  4. The Problem With AD&D 1 to 1 Time

    APR 8

    The Problem With AD&D 1 to 1 Time

    In this episode, I take a hard look at one of the strangest ideas in old school AD&D, one to one time. In a large shared campaign, it may have had a purpose. In a single player game or one steady group, it starts to fall apart fast. I get into why it kills momentum, why it makes no sense for most tables, and why tying your fantasy world to your real life calendar creates more problems than it solves. Website: https://Blacknotebook.orgEmail: AsktheDM(at)TheEvilDM.comSupport: https://Patreon.com/TheEvilDMPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheEvilDMThe Eclectic Goat- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaRKDBVtam0&t=707s

    25 min
  5. Unearthed Arcana, Official, Final, But is it Better?

    APR 2

    Unearthed Arcana, Official, Final, But is it Better?

    Was Unearthed Arcana really the final word on AD&D, or did it just make the game heavier? In this episode, I take a close look at Gary Gygax’s bold claims, the new rules and options inside the book, and whether this famous expansion actually improved play or simply added more weight to an already complex game. #ADnD1e #UnearthedArcana #OldSchoolDnD Support: https://Patreon.com/TheEvilDMWebsite: https://blacknotebook.org

    24 min
  6. AD&D Monster Spotlight: The Son of Kyuss

    MAR 25

    AD&D Monster Spotlight: The Son of Kyuss

    In this episode, I look at the Son of Kyuss from the Fiend Folio, one of the nastiest undead in AD&D. This is not just a monster fight. It is fear, disease, worms, panic, and long-term trouble for any party that gets careless. I talk about why it works so well at the table, how to use it in a dungeon, and why monsters like this are a big part of what makes AD&D feel dangerous.

    15 min
  7. Feather Fall: The Spell That Keeps Your Party Alive

    MAR 18

    Feather Fall: The Spell That Keeps Your Party Alive

    In this episode, we break down Feather Fall from the AD&D Player’s Handbook. This is a simple spell that keeps your characters alive. It slows falling, prevents damage, and turns bad calls into recoverable moments. We walk through how it works, where it shines, and how both players and GMs can use it to change the flow of the game. If your group ignores this spell, they are taking risks they do not need to take. You will hear: What the spell actually does at the tableIts limits and why timing mattersSmart ways to use it in combat and explorationHow it opens up vertical dungeon designWhy this spell saves more characters than damage spellsShort episode, practical use, straight to the table.

    11 min
  8. Let's talk about Skinwalkers in D&D, shall we?

    MAR 11

    Let's talk about Skinwalkers in D&D, shall we?

    I was sitting around thinking about monsters again, and it hit me after watching one of those late night skinwalker videos. In D&D everyone always jumps straight to the doppelganger, but that misses the real fun. A skinwalker doesn’t rush the party. It watches. It studies. It follows them through the woods for days. It waits for someone to wander off, someone to get curious, someone to make a bad choice. That’s where the tension comes from. The party starts noticing animals that appear too often, shadows that move wrong, and the feeling that something is out there just beyond the firelight. By the time they realize they are being hunted, it might already be sitting at the campfire with them. Background Music: Attribution Code "Zombie Hoodoo" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    15 min
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Welcome to the Black Notebook. A working DM’s notebook. D&D prep, campaign notes, rules breakdowns, and media worth stealing from for Old School Gamers!

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