The Evil Dungeon Master's AD&D Universe
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From the creator of the Roll For Initiative Podcast comes The Evil Dungeon Master’s AD&D Universe—your daily dose of old-school RPG wisdom! What began as a show on general gaming, Palladium, and more now embraces its true form: 1st Edition AD&D. Join the nefarious Evil DM for 10–15 minute episodes packed with tips, tricks, and over 35 years of experience. Season 7 and beyond? Pure AD&D 1e madness. Unfiltered. Sarcastic. Unapologetically classic. All my links: https://solo.to/theevildm
339 Episodes
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Today we look at one of the strongest defensive spells in the Player’s Handbook..... Wall of Force. It is a fifth-level magic-user spell that creates an invisible barrier that nothing can pass through, not even breath weapons or spells. I’ll break down how it works, how different tables rule it, and how to use it to turn the tide of an encounter.#ADnD #WallOfForce #MagicUser
Today’s episode goes back to Dragon Magazine #6 (1977) for a look at the Death Angel, a creature that mixes oracular prophecy with deadly power. Armed with a death scythe and near-unstoppable persistence, these beings embody fate itself. I’ll break down their abilities, how they work in play, and how to drop one into your campaign without wrecking the balance.#ADnD #DeathAngel #DragonMagazine
Today we open up Polyhedron Magazine #23 (1985) and take a look at a class Gary Gygax himself introduced... the Ultimist. Called the “nadir of new classes,” this hybrid cleric-magic-user-fighter was designed to embody the powers of the lower planes. I’ll cover what the class can do, how it plays, and whether it belongs at your table.#ADnD #Ultimist #Polyhedron
Today’s episode looks at one of the strangest items in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, the Apparatus of Kwalish. At first glance it’s just a big iron barrel, but inside it’s a full-on magical crab-submarine with levers, pincers, and a whole lot of chaos waiting to happen. I’ll cover how it works, how to use it in your game, and why this contraption can be one of the most entertaining magic items ever put into AD&D.#ADnD #Kwalish #MagicItems
Today’s episode looks at something players never expect but kings and lords never forget: taxes. From coins and gems to tolls and property, I’ll cover how to add taxes into your game, why it makes the world feel more real, and how to turn them into adventure hooks instead of paperwork.#ADnD #OldSchoolDnD #OSR
Today we dig into a spell most players skip right over in the Player’s Handbook. Dig is a 4th-level magic-user spell that lets you move earth and sand, collapse tunnels, and wreck dungeons in ways fireball never could. I’ll talk about how to use it as a player, how to use it as a DM, and why it deserves a second look.#ADnD #DigSpell #MagicUser
Today we look at two powerhouse spells that turn low- to mid-level fighters into battlefield legends... Heroism and Superheroism. I will break down what they do, how to use them in your game, and why a clever DM can make these spells the centerpiece of an epic moment.#ADnD #Heroism #Superheroism #ClericMagicThings talked about on the podcastSupport the show on Patreon – Patreon.com/TheEvilDMExclusive content, early looks, and more for old-school gamers.Watch on YouTube – youtube.com/@TheEvilDMPodcast episodes, game talk, and classic RPG content.Watch on Rumble – rumble.com/TheEvilDMBackup channel with the same no-nonsense RPG content.
Today’s episode is for Drake, who suggested this unusual magical item from the AD&D 2e era. Arabel’s Huggable Bear looks like a child’s stuffed toy, but it is one of the most protective and peaceful magic items you can hand to a party. I will talk about its sphere of protection, the double healing rate, and how to use it as a story tool instead of just a bonus to sleep.#ADnD #ArabelsHuggableBear #MagicItems
Today I talk about Bucknard’s Everfull Purse, a little leather pouch that creates coins every morning. Sounds simple. But in the right hands, it can cause greed, suspicion, and all kinds of trouble at the table. I will cover how to use it as a DM, why it is more dangerous than it looks, and how to make it the centerpiece of an entire adventure.#ADnD #BucknardsEverfullPurse #MagicItems
Today we shine a light on one of the nastiest creatures hiding in the Monster Manual. The Catoblepas is slow, ugly, and looks like it should be easy to kill. It isn’t. One look in its eyes and you are dead. No, not dying. Dead. I’ll walk through the stats, how to use it in your game without making it a cheap “gotcha” monster, and why this ugly swamp beast is a perfect old-school horror encounter.#ADnD #Catoblepas #MonsterManualhttps://solo.to/TheEvilDM
The Book of Vile Darkness isn’t just loot, it’s a campaign driver. In this episode, I talk about how to make this infamous artifact matter at your table. From corrupting heroes over time to whispering to NPCs before the party even touches it, this book should feel alive, dangerous, and unpredictable. I cover ways to make it the focus of a quest, the object of obsession for rival factions, and even a ticking time bomb that records the party’s every sin. If you want the Book of Vile Darkness to be more than a line on a treasure list, this is the episode for you.#ADnD #BookOfVileDarkness #OldSchoolRPGkeep up with me:https://Solo.to/TheEvilDM
Today on the AD&D Universe, we crack open the fiery prison that is the Efreeti entry. These towering tyrants from the Elemental Plane of Fire aren't just big bruisers with flaming swords... they're schemers, wish-twisters, and nightmare genies wrapped in smoke and hatred. I’ll show you how to use Efreeti as villains, manipulators, and ticking time bombs in your campaign... and why handing your players a brass bottle might be the worst decision you ever make.#OldSchoolDnD, #ADnD1e, #EfreetiChaos
Today’s episode is full homebrew mayhem. I’m talking about how to take the Evil Dead film series and drop it straight into your AD&D campaign. From ancient tomes to cursed forests, undead monstrosities to possessed party members, this is how you build the right tone and tension. I’ll walk through ideas for pacing, encounters, and how to make the Necronomicon a true campaign driver. Plus... I’ll stat up a Deadite you can throw at your players.#ADnD #EvilDeadInspired #OldSchoolHorror
Today we’re digging into an interesting illusionist spell, Wraithform. Found on page 69 of Unearthed Arcana, this third-level illusion turns the caster and their gear into an insubstantial, ghostlike form. I break down what it does, how to use it, and the sneaky power it gives illusionists. We’re talking wall-slipping, trap-dodging, undead-fooling mischief. Can’t attack in this form, but that’s not the point. If you want to float past danger or become nightmare fuel for low-level guards, this is your tool.#ADnD #Wraithform #UnearthedArcana #IllusionistMagic
Tired of your players memorizing monster stats? This episode is for you. I crack open Dragon Magazine #10 and take a look at the “Random Monsters” article by Paul Crabaugh. We talk about how to roll up completely original creatures on the fly using tables for hit dice, type, limbs, attacks, colors, and even weird traits like “no head” or “commands wolves.” I walk through how to use this tool to surprise your players, mess with expectations, and bring back that old-school mystery every monster used to have.#ADnD #RandomMonsters #DragonMagazineLinks:Solo AP - https://tinyurl.com/SoloAPEvilDMGotham & Beyond - https://tinyurl.com/GothamPodcast
In today’s episode, I dig into one of the most confusing and underused rules in AD&D... dual classing. It’s only for humans. It takes serious stats. And it forces you to give up everything from your old class... for a while. So why do it? I break down how it works, where it gets messy, and when it might actually be worth the risk. If you’ve ever thought about turning your fighter into a wizard or your cleric into a thief, this is the episode for you.#ADnD #DualClassing #OldSchoolRPG
Today we take a strange turn into the warped world of the Nilbog... a creature that breaks the rules just by existing. This goblin flips logic on its head, turning damage into healing and making every attack against it an act of kindness. I talk about its origins in the Fiend Folio, the spatio-temporal weirdness that defines it, and why this chaotic little creature can derail even the best-planned dungeon. I’ll share ways to use it in your campaign, twist your players’ expectations, and spark chaos with every swing.#ADnD #OldSchoolRPG #NilbogMayhem
In today's episode, I talk about what could be the sneakiest spells from AD&D... Tree. This spell lets a druid blend into the forest like a pro, but it raises a fun question... how else can we use it? Could a villain fake their death and hide as a tree? Could a cursed item cast Tree on the bearer when triggered? What about druids turning into shrubbery to spy on a noble’s court? We talk creative uses, rule questions, and a few ways to twist this humble spell into a game-changer for players and GMs.#ADnD #DruidMagic #OldSchoolGaming
We crack open the Stoneskin spell... first seen in Dragon Magazine, then polished up for Unearthed Arcana. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. What does “a single attack sequence” even mean? Is it one swing, one volley, one round? Does a monk’s flurry count as one or many? Does falling count as an attack? We talk about how DMs have handled it, what makes sense at the table, and when to step in with pure DM fiat. If you’ve ever had a fighter shrug off a fire giant’s club like it was a slap, this one’s for you.#adnd #ADnDSpells #Unearthed
Ever wonder what happens when your sword swing goes from epic to oops? In this episode, we crack open Dragon Magazine Issue 39 and talk about Carl Parlagreco’s critical hit and fumble rules... a brutal, hilarious, and gloriously unfair addition to your AD&D table. From decapitations to weapon tangles to accidentally stabbing your foot... we go over what works, what doesn’t, and how to make it all fun. Bring your d20... and maybe a backup character.#CriticalHits #ADnDClassic #DragonMagazine
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