The Evil Dungeon Master Universe
by The Evil Dungeon Master
The nefarious Evil Dungeon Master is here to share invaluable tips and tricks on Dungeons & Dragons, Palladium, and a myriad of other RPGs. Drawing from over 30 years of diabolical Dungeon Mastering Experience, these bite-sized daily podcasts (10 to 15 minutes each) are brimming with wicked wisdom that you simply can't afford to miss. Mostly system neutral, but has favored editions and game systems. Season 7 and beyond is all about AD&D! https://solo.to/theevildm for all my links!
Episodes
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The Cleric was never just the party healer.
In AD&D 1st Edition, the Cleric was built as something much bigger: part warrior, part miracle worker, part religious authority, and eventually someone capable of becoming a major force in the campaign world. In this episode of The Black Notebook, I look at what the Cleric was actually supposed…
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The Dungeon Never Waited for You
In this episode, we look at why Gary Gygax designed dungeons as living environments, how wandering monsters, torchlight, spell durations, and exploration all worked together, and why this old-school philosophy can make any dungeon feel more dangerous and believable, no matter what edition you…
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Gen Con 2026: Games, Good Times & a Few Surprises
I’m at Gen Con 2026! In this special episode of The Black Notebook, I talk about the games I played, including HARP and Rolemaster Unified, what I picked up from Palladium, Catalyst and others, and what the convention looks like for an old-school gamer in 2026. I also talk about the surprising…
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Why AD&D Trolls Were Nightmare Fuel
In this episode, I look at what made the AD&D 1st Edition troll such an unforgettable monster. We’ll dig into its frightening regeneration, surprising speed, brutal attacks, and the psychology behind why experienced players feared them. We’ll also compare how trolls have changed over the years…
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Why D&D Gave Gods Hit Points (Almost Everyone Gets It Wrong)
That’s one of the most common claims you’ll hear, but it’s not what Gary Gygax actually wrote. In this video, we go back to the original AD&D books to see what Deities & Demigods really says about divine beings, their avatars, and why so many people have misunderstood these rules for decades.…
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The Black Notebook Trailer
Welcome to the Black Notebook Podcast, enjoy the ride! New Trailer for 2026 and going forward! Website: https://TheEvilDM.com & https://blacknotebook.org Support: https://Patreon.com/TheEvilDM Twitter/X: @TheEvilDM Email: AsktheDM(@)TheEvilDM.com Facebook: https://FB.com/TheEvilDungeonMaster
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D&D Wants You to Play a Death Knight. AD&D Didn’t.
The Knight is one of the most iconic images in fantasy, but in AD&D First Edition, it was never a player class. So why do so many people remember it that way? In this episode, I look at where that idea came from, how the Cavalier and Paladin filled that role, and why the classic armored knight...
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Why Every D&D Party Needed Hirelings...
Hirelings were never just background characters in AD&D 1st Edition. They carried torches, guarded the camp, hauled treasure, and sometimes saved the entire party from disaster. In this episode of The Black Notebook, I look at why hirelings were an expected part of the game, how they changed the...
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Hook Horrors: The Monster You Hear Before You See
In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, we explore one of the oldest tricks in AD&D, using sound to build tension. From scratching behind a stone wall, to distant footsteps, strange whispers, and something breathing just beyond the torchlight, sound can create fear long before initiative…
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Save or Die: Was Classic D&D Too Brutal?
In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, we’re talking about one of the most debated mechanics in D&D, Save or Die. Was it unfair? Was it bad game design? Or was it an important part of what made old school play so tense? Let me know what you think in the comments or jump on over to Youtube...
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Tucker’s Kobolds, Why Weak Monsters Still Scare Players
In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I look at Tucker’s Kobolds, one of the most famous old school D&D stories ever printed in Dragon Magazine. These were ordinary kobolds, weak on paper, but deadly in play because the DM used terrain, tunnels, fire, murder holes, traps, and panic to…
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Orcs were terrifying, here's why..
In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I take a look at why orcs were genuinely feared in early AD&D, how they were presented in the rulebooks, and what made them such a serious threat to player characters. If you’ve ever wondered why old school players didn’t charge blindly into every...
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Why D&D Monsters Didn’t Fight to the Death
Ever wonder why monsters in old school D&D didn’t always fight to the bitter end? The answer is monster morale, one of the most overlooked rules in the game. In early D&D and AD&D, monsters weren’t expected to stand their ground until the last hit point. Goblins fled. Orcs surrendered. Bandits...
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Why Wandering Monsters Mattered
In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I talk about why wandering monsters mattered so much in old school AD&D, how they changed player behavior, and why modern games often lost that tension. Because once time mattered, every decision mattered too. https://TheEvilDM.com...
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Hopeless Characters, Aren't Hopeless..
Can a character with bad stats still matter in D&D?In this episode, I talk about “Hopeless Characters” in old school D&D, using the Holmes Basic blurb and AD&D as the starting point. Bad ability scores do not always mean a bad character. Sometimes the weak fighter, the fragile magic-user, or the...
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Dragons Were Meant To Be Avoided
Dragons were never meant to be balanced encounters. They were ancient, intelligent, terrifying creatures that could wipe out careless adventurers in minutes. Somewhere along the way, dragons became treated like another monster to fight for treasure and XP. In this episode, I talk about how AD&D…
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Does Low Intelligence Make Evil Stupid?
Low Intelligence does not make evil stupid. It changes how that evil shows up at the table. In this AD&D episode, I talk about why low Intelligence monsters and characters can still be dangerous, organized, loyal, cruel, and effective. Not every evil creature is a mastermind. Some are enforcers,...
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Seriously, Gnolls Are Creepy as Heck in AD&D
If you want your monsters to feel dangerous, memorable, and genuinely creepy, this episode is for you.Gnolls in AD&D are more than just hyena men with axes. In this episode, I talk about why gnolls feel so unsettling at the table, where they came from, how Gary Gygax shaped them in AD&D 1st...
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AD&D Magic Resistance Is Not What You Think It Is
In this episode, I break down how magic resistance actually works in AD&D 1st Edition, why it comes before saving throws, how the 11th level baseline changes spellcasting odds, and why this one rule completely changes how a magic-user approaches dangerous encounters. We also look at how magic...
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Lawful Evil Isn’t Stupid...
Lawful Evil is one of the most misunderstood alignments in AD&D and tabletop RPGs. Too many players treat it like random cruelty or constant betrayal, but real Lawful Evil is disciplined, controlled, and dangerous because it works inside systems of power. In this episode, we break down what…
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The AD&D Druid Was Never Just a Nature Cleric
The AD&D 1st Edition Druid is often treated like a Cleric with trees, animals, and a few nature spells. That misses the point.In this episode, I look at what made the Druid different. True Neutral alignment. Limited weapons and armor. Terrain control. Strange spell choices. A class structure…
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Why the AD&D Fighter Was Never Boring
This is a look at what Fighters really did in classic AD&D, why they mattered, and why many modern players miss the point. If you enjoy old school gaming, Gygax era design, and practical talk about how these games actually played, this one is for you.Subscribe for more episodes on AD&D, classic...
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AD&D is Not Fair... That's the Point!
AD&D does not balance encounters around your party. It never tried to. The world exists as it is, and you walk into it whether you are ready or not.In this video, I break down why that design choice matters. You can meet something far above your level. You can run into weak threats that waste…
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Why AD&D Is Still the Gold Standard....
Why is the AD&D called the gold standard? In this video, I break down why Gary Gygax’s classic book still stands above so many games that came before & after it. This game was a toolbox packed with random tables, world building advice, campaign structure, treasure systems, timekeeping, encounter...
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White Dragons Are Meaner Than You Think
How mean are White Dragons? Well this episode talks about the dragon itself and then I came up with really evil ways you can use him in a campaign. They aren't stupid, in fact they are great hunters, and dragons don't need to show up and just attack to be slaughtered, they will act like an...
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Empty Rooms Are Not Empty...
Empty rooms get skipped. That’s the problem. In this episode, you look at what an “empty” room actually does at the table. Sound, dust, air, light, and layout all carry information. Players read those details and make choices. That changes pacing, tension, and how the dungeon feels. You get...
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Bonus Episode - Let’s Chat About Gold for XP in AD&D
Gold for XP is not just an old rule. It is the engine that drives how the game actually plays. In this episode, we break down what happens when experience is tied to treasure instead of kills. Players stop chasing fights. They start making smarter calls. They explore with purpose, avoid bad...
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Let's Chat about Encumbrance Rules in AD&D
Let’s chat about encumbrance rules in AD&D and why they often miss the mark at the table. On paper, tracking every coin, torch, and piece of gear sounds like it should add tension. In practice, it slows the game down, turns sessions into math checks, and pulls focus away from exploration and...
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The Problem With AD&D 1 to 1 Time
In this episode, I take a hard look at one of the strangest ideas in old school AD&D, one to one time. In a large shared campaign, it may have had a purpose. In a single player game or one steady group, it starts to fall apart fast. I get into why it kills momentum, why it makes no sense for most...
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Unearthed Arcana, Official, Final, But is it Better?
Was Unearthed Arcana really the final word on AD&D, or did it just make the game heavier? In this episode, I take a close look at Gary Gygax’s bold claims, the new rules and options inside the book, and whether this famous expansion actually improved play or simply added more weight to an already...
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AD&D Monster Spotlight: The Son of Kyuss
In this episode, I look at the Son of Kyuss from the Fiend Folio, one of the nastiest undead in AD&D. This is not just a monster fight. It is fear, disease, worms, panic, and long-term trouble for any party that gets careless. I talk about why it works so well at the table, how to use it in a...
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Feather Fall: The Spell That Keeps Your Party Alive
In this episode, we break down Feather Fall from the AD&D Player’s Handbook. This is a simple spell that keeps your characters alive. It slows falling, prevents damage, and turns bad calls into recoverable moments. We walk through how it works, where it shines, and how both players and GMs can…
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Let's talk about Skinwalkers in D&D, shall we?
I was sitting around thinking about monsters again, and it hit me after watching one of those late night skinwalker videos. In D&D everyone always jumps straight to the doppelganger, but that misses the real fun. A skinwalker doesn’t rush the party. It watches. It studies. It follows them through...
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Why 1 HP Makes Your Players Fear the Dungeon Again
Most games give players a cushion. More hit points. More healing. More second chances. Over time, that safety turns the dungeon into a resource puzzle instead of a threat. In this video, I break down why starting at 1 HP changes everything. How it strips away mechanical plot armor. How it forces...
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AD&D - D1 Is Not a Dungeon Crawl, It’s Enemy Territory
Today we are cracking open D1 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth. This is not your cozy ten-foot corridor crawl. This is survival, pressure, and moral compromise wrapped in darkness. You are not the hero down here, you are the infection sneaking through a living, breathing underworld that wants...
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How I Turned One Donjon Prompt Into a full gaming Idea
I walk through the Donjon website and show how I use its generators to spark real campaign ideas. I focus on how a single prompt turned into the Black Tome of Cordelia, a dangerous silk-paged book with no quest giver and no safe way to use it. I break down how I would introduce it into a fantasy...
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Why the Flail Snail Punishes Bad AD&D Habits
Most AD&D monsters teach players to hit harder or cast faster. The flail snail exists to break that habit.In this video, I talk about why Gary Gygax included the flail snail in AD&D, what problem it was meant to solve, and why so many tables misunderstood it. This is not a stats breakdown. This…
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AD&D Manual of the Planes - Part 2
This is Part 2 of the Manual of the Planes deep dive. Part 1 covered what the book is and why it matters. This video is about actually running planar adventures at your table without turning them into a TPK or a rules lecture. How do you introduce planar travel without making it feel casual? How…
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AD&D Monster Spotlight: Half-Ogres, did you use them
Half-ogres stomp into the realm of AD&D with raw strength and brutal charm, but are they the ultimate power fantasy or a one-way ticket to a broken campaign? Today, we dive into the dark swamps of hybrid races, uncover the hidden dangers of tinkering with game balance, and find out why a…
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AD&D Manual of the Planes - Part 1
In this video, I take a focused look at the AD&D Manual of the Planes by Jeff Grubb, starting with what this book is actually for and why it still matters. This is not an adventure book and it is not light reading. It is a Dungeon Master’s guide to how reality works once you step beyond the Prime...
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Monster Spotlight: The Ki-Rin, Why This Is Not a Fight
Today’s Monster Spotlight looks at the Ki-Rin, one of the strangest and most misunderstood creatures in AD&D. Part celestial, part unicorn, part dragon, the Ki-Rin is powerful, intelligent, and almost never meant to be fought. We break down what it can do, why it exists in the game, and how using...
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AD&D Custom Magic Item: the Ledger of Oaths
Today's episode introduces a custom AD&D magic item, the Ledger of Oaths, a book that records spoken promises and punishes those who break them. We talk about how oaths create tension at the table, why intent matters more than wording, and how this item forces players to think before they promise...
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AD&D Podcast: The Character with Two Classes
Today’s episode clears up one of the most misunderstood AD&D rules, characters with two classes. Not multi-classing. Not dual-classing as later editions define it. The original rule, how it actually works, and why people misread it. This is about switching careers, not stacking powers.
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AD&D - That's a Wrap on 2025
That’s a wrap on 2025 in the AD&D Universe, a year of rulings over rules, forgotten DM tools, hard calls at the table, and why old-school AD&D still works when you let the referee decide. #ADnD #OSR #EvilDungeonMaster #OldSchoolDnD #TTRPG #RoleplayingGames
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AD&D Podcast: Year-End Q&A: Where Do We Go Next?
This episode is a year-end wrap up for the AD&D 1E podcast. I talk about what we covered this year, what I enjoyed, and how the show has grown. More important, I ask you where you want this podcast to go in 2026. Do you want me to keep it focused on AD&D 1E. Do you want AD&D to stay the core, but...
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AD&D Module Review: Grimbo Grotto - Christmas Farcical Horror Adventure
A short, weird Christmas one-shot with psychoactive mushrooms, evil gnomes, and a were-reindeer named Rude Olf by @Goblinshenchmen. A 4 page oneshot Christmas themed adventure that an be run for literally ANY EDITION of D&D Link to adventure:...
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AD&D Spell Spotlight: Raise Dead
We break down Raise Dead from the PHB. What it restores, what it cannot fix, and the risks that come with it. I give clean rulings, quick examples, and a table story where a player tried to bend the spell around missing body parts. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheEvilDM...
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AD&D Adventure - Turkey Day!
The feast is set. The bird vanishes into a thin Astral slip. We chase a thunder-turkey, juggle a parade heist, fight a kitchen spirit, and bring dinner home before sundown. Drop-in scenes and tight rulings you can use tonight. Listen now. Support the show on Patreon:...
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AD&D Monster Spotlight: Shadow Demon
Today we break down the Shadow Demon. It lives in darkness, slips through battles, and punishes parties that rely on torches. I cover how its light-based AC works, its fear and darkness tricks, plus quick hooks. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheEvilDM Watch on YouTube:...
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AD&D Monster Spotlight: Gambado
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/TheEvilDM...
About this show
The nefarious Evil Dungeon Master is here to share invaluable tips and tricks on Dungeons & Dragons, Palladium, and a myriad of other RPGs. Drawing from over 30 years of diabolical Dungeon Mastering Experience, these bite-sized daily podcasts (10 to 15 minutes each) are brimming with wicked wisdom that you simply can't afford to miss. Mostly system neutral, but has favored editions and game systems. Season 7 and beyond is all about AD&D! https://solo.to/theevildm for all my links!
Hosted by
The Evil Dungeon Master