An old player reached out to me over the weekend. During our chat he brought up that time his thief rolled a nat 1 (99 on percentile, actually!) on a "move silently" check inside a hobgoblin lair (BECMI, "Keep on the Borderlands").
I laughed and said, "I made a YouTube video about that!"
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab7aNB3RE-Q
READ: https://ruckerworks.com/2026/02/perfect-plan-dice-fail/
#dndstories #rpg #dungeonmaster #becmi #dnd5e #dndmemories #tabletopgaming
A "Memorable" #ttrpg session isn't always the same as a "Successful" one. :-)
WATCH: https://youtu.be/Ab7aNB3RE-Q [3 min 13 sec]
READ: https://ruckerworks.com/2026/02/perfect-plan-dice-fail/
#dndstories #rpg #dungeonmaster #becmi #dnd5e #dndmemories #tabletopgaming
In this true table story, a group of first-level D&D adventurers plan a stealth mission into a hobgoblin lair. What follows is an epic failure in the most memorable way. It's a perfect example of why the chaos of bad dice rolls create the most unforgettable moments in tabletop RPGs.
WATCH: https://youtu.be/Ab7aNB3RE-Q [3 min 13 sec]
READ: https://ruckerworks.com/2026/02/perfect-plan-dice-fail/
#dndstories #rpg #dungeonmaster #ttrpg #becmi #dnd5e #dndmemories #tabletopgaming #epicfail
Can failure in your D&D game be more fun than success?
My next video drops tomorrow (THU Feb 11) where I describe a table-top D&D game that went horribly wrong in the most memorable way.
Stay tuned.
https://www.youtube.com/@ruckerworks/
#dndstories #rpg #dungeonmaster #ttrpg #becmi #dnd5e #dndmemories #tabletopgaming
Want to run better sessions and design stronger adventures? I've been playing D&D since 1980, and I make straightforward, no-fluff videos that help dungeon masters and players build great games. You'll get practical tips on adventure design, session prep, and running the table, with advice you can actually use in your next game. I also write fantasy fiction and TTRPG content. Subscribe if you want guidance that's grounded in real play that actually works. Have fun, stay cool, and keep your dice rolling.
Number of spells for "magic user/wizard" (equivalent) in core rulebooks (excluding sorcer, warlock, illusionist, etc.):
1. OSE Basic Fantasy – 12
2. Mentzer Basic Set – 14
3. Shadowdark – 16
4. OSE Advanced Fantasy – 27
5. AD&D 1e PHB – 34
6. 5e 2014 PHB – 49
7. 5e 2024 Core – 61
Combat between four 1st level characters and four hobgoblins, assuming no grid-heavy tactics, and rules used mostly as written:
1. Shadowdark – About 15 to 25 minutes.
2. BECMI – About 20 to 30 minutes.
3. OSE Basic Fantasy – About 20 to 30 minutes.
4. OSE Advanced Fantasy – About 25 to 40 minutes.
5. AD&D 1e – About 30 to 45 minutes.
6. 5e 2014 – About 40 to 70 minutes.
7. 5e 2024 – About 40 to 70 minutes, possibly toward the higher end early on.
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