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
348 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 we shine a light on the Gambado. A pit-lurker with a spring-body, a skull for a lure, and a nasty grab-and-drag routine. I cover stats, how it hunts, tight rulings that make encounters pop, and quick hooks you can run tonight.Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheEvilDMWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvilDMWatch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/TheEvilDM
Today we talk about starting age. The Dungeon Master’s Guide gives real tables for how old your character is at creation. I cover how the tables work, how to handle multiclass, what age does in play, and a quick story where I had to clamp down on min-maxing.#TSR #OSR #RPG #Gygax #Greyhawk
Today we talk about the money side of adventuring that most tables skip. Money changers take a cut, bankers hold your coin, lenders set harsh terms, and jewelers shave value when they buy. I’ll give you clear rates, rulings you can drop in, and hooks that make your city feel alive.
Today we look at the Oriental Adventures rule that lets you grant a one-time bonus when the player demonstrates knowledge or performs a skill. I cover how to use it fairly, what to cap, and a real table story where a player’s stunt earned a surprise attack.#TSR #Adnd #OSR
Today I talk about command words for rods, staves, and wands. AD&D makes you earn the activation. You have to learn the word. I cover the rules, a fast table process to run discovery, a story where a player tried to game it, and quick hooks.#adnd #osr #tsr #forgottenrealms #greyhawk
Today I dig into the wraith. Fast, smart, and built to punish careless parties. I cover what it does, how to stage it, rulings that keep it deadly but fair, and hooks you can run tonight.Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheEvilDMWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvilDMWatch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/TheEvilDM
Today we break down the four core Elementals, how they fight, where they shine, and how to use them without derailing a session. I give table rulings that keep them scary and fair, plus quick hooks you can drop in tonight.Things talked about on the podcastSupport the show on Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/TheEvilDMSecondary Channel -- https://youtube.com/@soloquestsRPG
Today we look at page 80 of the Unearthed Arcana book where there is an optional rule that lets a magic user cast straight from a spellbook as if it were a scroll. It is powerful, costly, and risky. I cover the exact risks, how to rule edge cases, and a table story where a player tried to game it.#adnd #tsr #dnd #OSR
Today’s episode looks at the Ring of Truth, a magic item that makes lies impossible to miss but also strips the wearer of their ability to lie. It’s a blessing and a curse, and at the table it often sparks rules questions. I’ll share what it does, how to use it as a DM, and a story where I had to step in when a player tried to get too clever with it.#ADnD #RingOfTruth #MagicItems
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
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