Not D&D, but I’m a journalist irl. Learning even a little bit of shorthand (or creating your own) will save you tons of time.

I would also recommend going through your old notes and studying what info actually proved useful. It can help you learn what to focus on or ignore going forward.

To each their own. I prefer to spend my time role-playing. Though I do like Yahtzee, so I can kind of see where you’re coming from.

Absolutely. There’s a reason I haven’t touched D&D for many years.

My favourite is the World of Darkness 2nd Ed core rules. My games revolve around ordinary people in extraordinary situations, so base WoD works really well.

I usually run pretty small groups too.

Cooperation is easily one of the most important things the players can do to succeed in a game. Hopefully you can get through to them as to why they should.

A few scenarios that force them to work together might just do the trick. Fingers crossed it works!

I do the same after every session. Nothing beats getting direct feedback!

Combat is the worst part of many TTRPGs and should be used sparingly and thoughtfully when running games.

Absolutely great take!

Absolutely! I could tell some absolute horror stories of mistakes I've made while running games. The main thing that's made me better is 23 odd years of practice.

I love new players for just this reason!

Years ago I was a children's librarian. Every summer I would run a very simple intro to TTRPGs program. Every single time I did, the kids would always find unique and non-violent ways to deal with the creatures they encountered. I was always so impressed.

A lot of those who run games tend to worry about whether they're up to the task. I know because I do it too.

It's good to remember sometimes that TTRPGs are a wonderfully silly endeavour and so long as everyone's having fun, you're doing it right.

I have been meaning to do this for at least a decade. My lazy workaround has been to switch to buying Army Painter when I need anything new.

Bonus points for moving the labels onto the droppers!

Labour is undervalued in almost every industry and creatives seem especially vulnerable to exploitation. Just because someone has a passion for art or writing does not mean that they should discount their labour.

Indie content is the lifeblood of the TTRPG space. Those making it deserve support.

That's a great attitude!

I encourage all my players write journals or notes in character between sessions. It really helps with immersion. I would be over the moon to see a player make something as stylish as what you've designed here! Awesome job!

You should never introduce a new TTRPG player to the hobby through D&D. A one page RPG like Goat Crashers or Lasers and Feelings better encapsulate the spirit of role-playing and won't overwhelm new players with needless bloat.

Takes me back to 2005! I use this and a variety of low-fi fantasy music when I want some background tunes while I write.

Oh damn! This wasn't a fever dream I had in grade 7?!?! I need to watch this again.