The Evil Dungeon Master Universe

Today's podcast talks about something that is trending on X about how Gary Gygax stated about how to play AD&D and Batman Tim wanted a wacky creature talked about today!

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In today's episode, I go over the rules for detect good and/or evil as listed in the Dungeon Masters guide. This gives us a little more then what's listed in the players handbook under the Paladin ability "Detect Evil". It tells us that only "Know Alignment" can truly determine a person's alignment.

The detection of good and evil in characters relies on powerful spells or inherent character alignment. Only strong manifestations of good or evil can be detected, often radiated by high-level characters or powerful beings. Most magic items do not reveal such auras unless specifically aligned, while certain places or items like holy/unholy

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The “Rainbow” spell is a 5th-level cleric evocation/alteration that harnesses the power of rainbows to create various magical effects. The cleric can choose from four applications: a magical bow that fires colored arrows with special damage effects, a bridge made of rainbow hues, an elevator that lifts the cleric and others, or a flagon that produces magical water with healing and protective properties. The spell has a duration of 1 round per level and requires specific components to cast.

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The Croatoan Roanoke legend surrounds the mystery of the lost colony established in 1587 on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. When Governor John White returned in 1590, he found the settlement abandoned, with only the word “Croatoan” carved into a post, hinting at the nearby Croatoan tribe. Theories about the colonists’ fate include assimilation, relocation, and death from starvation or conflict, making it one of America’s greatest historical enigmas.

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Shadows are undead creatures tied to the negative material plane, often lurking in ancient ruins or deep underground. They drain life force by touch, sapping both health and strength from their victims. Shadows are challenging to detect, blending seamlessly into darkness, and are immune to many typical spells and cold-based attacks. Victims drained to 0 strength or health transform into shadows themselves, perpetuating their ominous existence.

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The article "Arcane Academe: Adding to the Thief" by Jeff Martin introduces new skill options for the Thief class in AD&D, inspired by the Unearthed Arcana supplement. It provides additional skills like Appraise, Ransack, and Infiltrate, aiming to give Thieves more variety and specialization within the game. This expansion allows for a more detailed approach to Thief abilities, enhancing their gameplay experience with refined skill checks, racial and dexterity adjustments, and various skill proficiencies based on level.

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Today's podcast comes from listener, Hunter and he wanted to know if Tieflings should be common in a fantasy game. So I tried to answer this question, while looking at the AD&D 2e Planewalker's Handbook.

Tieflings, the most enigmatic of the plane-touched, evoke both fascination and fear. Unlike aasimar or genasi, tieflings lack a clear heritage and are often viewed through the lens of stigma tied to their fiendish ancestry. They forge their own identities, unbound by family or societal expectations, yet they navigate a world that often seeks to define them by their origins. Their journey is one of personal power and self-definition, challenging the perceptions that accompany their lineage.

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Sunray is a 7th-level druid spell that creates a beam of light

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Happy Halloween everyone!

Demonic possession, often absent in D&D lore, allows powerful demons (level IV or higher) to control the bodies of mortals. Only specific demons can possess adventurers, requiring an amulet to remain nearby. Possession involves a saving throw, and a failed save leads to the victim being controlled by the demon. Exorcism is possible but painful, with varying outcomes for both the cleric and the possessed. Once exorcised, the demon cannot repossess the body, but it can return if certain conditions are met.

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Dragon Magazine Link:

https://www.annarchive.com/files/Drmg020.pdf

Xill are rare, bipedal, flame-red creatures with four arms that can wield weapons and grapple victims. They reproduce asexually by laying eggs on living humanoids. Xill can shift between the Ethereal and Prime Material Planes, often surprising their victims. They prefer to paralyze

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