Long campaigns are the dream, but they can also feel restricting.
Six years, 142 sessions, and a shelf of short adventures I've never opened.
Behind the Screen
Behind the Screen is your resource for all things DMing and TTRPGs. Learn from practical guides that break down the preparation process, enjoy creative insights, and access resources for both new and seasoned game masters and TTRPG fans.
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Latest episodes
Bastions: A Two-Year Review and How to Make Them Better
Two years of player housing taught me the difference between a home base and a checklist.
The Challenge of Teaching How to DM
You can’t teach someone to DM in an hour, but you can show them where to start.
Inside the Session Zero Kit
Everything you need to run your first Session Zero, ready for your table.
How to Run a Session Zero
How to run one that actually lands, plus why it works best as a conversation instead of a checklist. Plus Behind the Screen’s first premium drop.
On Purposeless Detail in Worldbuilding and D&D
Why the mundane, the ambient, and the inconsequential are what make a world feel real.
Prepping a One-Shot to Last One Session
The hidden time sinks that keep one-shots from ending on time.
A Practical Guide to Designing Villains
Building antagonists and big bads that drive a story and create situations.
One Year of Behind the Screen
A look back, a look ahead, and a look at what's to come!
Adding Silliness and Quirks to Your Campaign
You can't prep funny, but you can prep for it, then get out of its way.
No Such Thing as a Side Quest
Every diversion is one thread away from being part of the campaign.
The Economics of Adventuring
A worldbuilding look at how fantasy economies handle their adventurers, plus the guild that keeps them in line.
Downloadable Dungeon: The Waterclock Crypts
A level 15 dungeon my players called the toughest and their favorite, plus a few design choices behind the devious traps.
Designing an Atmospheric Dungeon
My players called this one their favorite and here’s how I did it.
The Psychology of Choice in D&D Prep
And how knowing your players turns situational prep into meaningful choice at the table.
From the Shelf: Sources of Information
Fundamentals of Dungeon Architecture, Volume I, Chapter 1: Reading the Land. What an architect consults before laying a single stone.
What’s a Beholder? According to My Mom, a Term of Endearment
A retired paralegal weighs in on owlbears, Vecna, and the meaning of 'displacer.’
A Book Your Players Just Found
Introducing Fundamentals of Dungeon Architecture, a fake textbook for any campaign!
Building Neurodivergent NPCs with Care, Not Just Good Intentions
An interview with Dr. Alan D'Aiello, a lecturer at Fordham University.
Building Cozyvale: A World of Small Problems and ‘Filthy’ Chai Lattes
On leaving BookCon 2026 creatively inspired, breaking a months-long rut, and letting a silly guy finally build a silly valley.