The Black Notebook Podcast

Today on the AD&D Universe, we crack open the fiery prison that is the Efreeti entry. These towering tyrants from the Elemental Plane of Fire aren't just big bruisers with flaming swords... they're schemers, wish-twisters, and nightmare genies wrapped in smoke and hatred. I’ll show you how to use Efreeti as villains, manipulators, and ticking time bombs in your campaign... and why handing your players a brass bottle might be the worst decision you ever make.

#OldSchoolDnD, #ADnD1e, #EfreetiChaos

Today’s episode is full homebrew mayhem. I’m talking about how to take the Evil Dead film series and drop it straight into your AD&D campaign. From ancient tomes to cursed forests, undead monstrosities to possessed party members, this is how you build the right tone and tension. I’ll walk through ideas for pacing, encounters, and how to make the Necronomicon a true campaign driver. Plus... I’ll stat up a Deadite you can throw at your players.

#ADnD #EvilDeadInspired #OldSchoolHorror

Today we’re digging into an interesting illusionist spell, Wraithform. Found on page 69 of Unearthed Arcana, this third-level illusion turns the caster and their gear into an insubstantial, ghostlike form. I break down what it does, how to use it, and the sneaky power it gives illusionists. We’re talking wall-slipping, trap-dodging, undead-fooling mischief. Can’t attack in this form, but that’s not the point. If you want to float past danger or become nightmare fuel for low-level guards, this is your tool.

#ADnD #Wraithform #UnearthedArcana #IllusionistMagic

Tired of your players memorizing monster stats? This episode is for you. I crack open Dragon Magazine #10 and take a look at the “Random Monsters” article by Paul Crabaugh. We talk about how to roll up completely original creatures on the fly using tables for hit dice, type, limbs, attacks, colors, and even weird traits like “no head” or “commands wolves.” I walk through how to use this tool to surprise your players, mess with expectations, and bring back that old-school mystery every monster used to have.

#ADnD #RandomMonsters #DragonMagazine

Links:

1. Solo AP - https://tinyurl.com/SoloAPEvilDM
2. Gotham & Beyond - https://tinyurl.com/GothamPodcast

In today’s episode, I dig into one of the most confusing and underused rules in AD&D... dual classing. It’s only for humans. It takes serious stats. And it forces you to give up everything from your old class... for a while. So why do it? I break down how it works, where it gets messy, and when it might actually be worth the risk. If you’ve ever thought about turning your fighter into a wizard or your cleric into a thief, this is the episode for you.

#ADnD #DualClassing #OldSchoolRPG

Today we take a strange turn into the warped world of the Nilbog... a creature that breaks the rules just by existing. This goblin flips logic on its head, turning damage into healing and making every attack against it an act of kindness. I talk about its origins in the Fiend Folio, the spatio-temporal weirdness that defines it, and why this chaotic little creature can derail even the best-planned dungeon. I’ll share ways to use it in your campaign, twist your players’ expectations, and spark chaos with every swing.

#ADnD #OldSchoolRPG #NilbogMayhem

In today's episode, I talk about what could be the sneakiest spells from AD&D... Tree. This spell lets a druid blend into the forest like a pro, but it raises a fun question... how else can we use it? Could a villain fake their death and hide as a tree? Could a cursed item cast Tree on the bearer when triggered? What about druids turning into shrubbery to spy on a noble’s court? We talk creative uses, rule questions, and a few ways to twist this humble spell into a game-changer for players and GMs.

#ADnD #DruidMagic #OldSchoolGaming

We crack open the Stoneskin spell... first seen in Dragon Magazine, then polished up for Unearthed Arcana. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. What does “a single attack sequence” even mean? Is it one swing, one volley, one round? Does a monk’s flurry count as one or many? Does falling count as an attack? We talk about how DMs have handled it, what makes sense at the table, and when to step in with pure DM fiat. If you’ve ever had a fighter shrug off a fire giant’s club like it was a slap, this one’s for you.

#adnd #ADnDSpells #Unearthed

Ever wonder what happens when your sword swing goes from epic to oops? In this episode, we crack open Dragon Magazine Issue 39 and talk about Carl Parlagreco’s critical hit and fumble rules... a brutal, hilarious, and gloriously unfair addition to your AD&D table. From decapitations to weapon tangles to accidentally stabbing your foot... we go over what works, what doesn’t, and how to make it all fun. Bring your d20... and maybe a backup character.

#CriticalHits #ADnDClassic #DragonMagazine

The Minotaur is a classic AD&D monster... but that does not mean it has to be predictable. In this episode, I break away from the usual maze-bound brawler and explore strange, unexpected ways to use Minotaurs in your campaign. From ritual performances to extradimensional bureaucracy, this is how you take the brute... and give it a twist.

#TSR #ADnD1e
#MonsterRework