3/3/2020 – Monster Spotlight: Merfolk

I broke down the evolution of Merfolk in D&D through the years. Did you know that they were specifically “Mermen” for a few editions despite having art featuring a mermaid? How about that they were just completely cut out of 4E?

 

3/4/2020 – RPG Accessories: Dice Tower

Ok look. I know not everybody likes or uses dice towers. That’s cool. But do yourself a favor and check out the article just to take a peek at the dice tower in the shape of  Barad-dûr / Sauron’s Tower. I’m a casual LotR fan at most, and I still sort of want that one.

 

3/5/2020 – What’s New on DM’s Guild and DriveThru RPG

New games and modules! Want to be a Power Ranger? You can be!

 

3/6/2020 – How to Make Harley Quinn as a playable D&D Character

I love making D&D characters based on fictional characters who I already know and love. Sometimes I use them, others it’s just a fun little exercise to take up some time. To get hyped for Birds of Prey this weekend I made Harley for D&D. She’s not perfect, but she’s doing her best.

 

3/7/2020 – RPG Spotlight: Call of Cthulhu

I really enjoy playing Call of Cthulhu. It’s a game with a rich, complex history and lots of weird details that deserve discussion. I was only able to touch on some of them, but suffice to say it’s a game well worth thinking about and playing.

As promised, I’ve been making extra efforts to be kinder to and more supportive of myself. I remind myself regularly that what I do and what I make are good and have value. I’m critical of myself where self reflection and criticism are necessary, but I make every effort to not speak to myself like a middle school bully.

It’s difficult. I have years and years worth of practice being mean to myself and none showing kindness. It’s especially difficult when my brain chimes in and tells me for whatever reason to just not be happy.

This happens more often than you might think – I’ll be perfectly carefree and contented and then out of nowhere my brain will shut the party down; all I’ll be able to focus on is social interactions I’ve mishandled or things I’m discontent with.

My brand of depression is relatively mild compared to a lot of other people; I can usually sleep it off or chat it out with a good friend or my husband and be okay… This also comes after a bunch of therapy and fair amount of self-reflection. Regardless, I wouldn’t say that my depression is severe.

Still, it’s all the more difficult to remember to be kind to myself when sometimes it feels like even my own mind wants me to be cruel.

I’ve been countering this by leaning into it. Telling myself that it’s okay to feel crummy, it’s even okay to feel crummy for no reason at all. It happens to a lot of people and it’s no reason to let yourself become mean. If it’s not alright for others to lash out at me when they’re in a bad place, it’s definitely not alright for me to do it to myself.

It’s not easy and if I’m being very honest it feels counter intuitive sometimes, but I’m doing my best and that’s not nothing.

I’ve had a busy couple of weeks. Two weekends ago I was at PAX South working at the IntiCreates booth. Last weekend a friend came to visit. In the days between I’ve been working a job and a half… and playing a ton of Gunvolt.

But I did write a bunch of articles for BoLS! I think I’m up to 15 total now. This week I got paid to write about Sailor Moon! That’s a dream come true!

Anyway, I want to check in here with my writing progress more often, so I’m gong to do weekly article round-ups and send you back to the home planet if you want to check in on what I’ve been working on.

Here’s the first:

Monday 1/27/2020
Monster Spotlight: Don’t Be So Golem
I went through my five favorite wacky golems through the D&D editions! And there are some especially weird ones. I’ll definitely be coming back for another round of even weirder golems

Tuesday 1/28/2020
RPG: Five Dice Trays to Protect Your Tabletop
My weekly excuse to go window shopping!

Wednesday 1/29/2020
What’s New This Week on Dungeon Master’s Guild & DriveThru RPG
I check out what’s new on DMG and THRPG so you don’t have to.

Thursday 1/30/2020
D&D: 5 Rogue Archetypes as Fictional Characters
Spoiler alert, I put Scrooge McDuck on this list because it’s my list and I’ll reference DuckTales if I want to!

Friday 1/31/2020
RPG Spotlight: Sailor Moon
Honestly, this is it. I’ve peaked.

 

I’ll have more regular updates as I get better about editing my book and writing creatively regularly again. February is going to going to be a busy, more scheduled, more organized month.