The Black Notebook Podcast

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 it wrong can derail a campaign, while using it right can change one.

#ADnD #OSR #MonsterSpotlight #DungeonMaster #OldSchoolDnD #TTRPG

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 anything. It’s a tool for trust, consequences, and real choices, not power creep. #ADnD #OSR #DungeonMaster #TTRPG #OldSchoolDnD #TabletopRPG

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.

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

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 with the occasional chat about other games and things I am into. Do you want me to try something new. I lay out the options, share my thoughts, and ask you to send your feedback so I know what you want to hear next year. I have a poll here on spotify, or you can go to my website and answer the question!

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: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/340232/grimbo-grotto-christmas-farcical-horror-adventure?affiliate_id=421647

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.

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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.

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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.

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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
• Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvilDM
• Watch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/TheEvilDM