Teaching with D&D Dungeons & Dragons as a learning tool — courses, classroom practice, and notes from years of DMing with kids. https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/ 2026-07-19T23:02:03.227Z From Wiki to Wandcraft, and More https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/from-wiki-to-wandcraft-and-more/ 2026-07-19T23:02:01.841Z School-year catch-up: Latitude history on the Vikingworld wiki, two new books, the Live Villages Minecraft mod, and more work on the character sheet & card app. An Update on My Summer Projects https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/an-update-on-my-summer-projects/ 2025-08-31T11:54:28.000Z Summer progress report: MyRPG, mastery advancement, the third-build character card system, and Fires at the Fjordgate. The D4 Pool System https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/the-d4-pool-system/ 2025-06-08T22:26:12.000Z A bell-curved d4 dice pool that merges attack and damage—replacing the d20 for 5e-inspired or original RPGs. Hero Posters: Turning D&D Characters into Classroom Super‑Stars https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/hero-posters-turning-d-and-d-characters-into-classroom-super-stars/ 2025-05-02T13:39:48.000Z Full-color “Get to Know Your Heroes” posters that put every PC on the wall and make the classroom party feel legendary. Card based characters? https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/card-based-characters/ 2024-11-30T13:42:44.000Z Why full card-based characters may beat thick sheets for kids and digital-skeptical tables—and where the design is headed. AI can help a TON https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/ai-can-help-a-ton/ 2024-05-09T10:26:57.000Z Monsters, art, and on-the-fly improvisation: how AI tools help a non-“creative” DM (and an 11-year-old) run better games. Bards! You can use AI to make songs easily. https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/aisongmaking/ 2024-05-05T16:07:28.000Z Using AI to write and produce a session song—The Ballad of Bitey Boy Brock—and how bards (and DMs) can too. Kids DMing: Coffee Wizard! https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/kids-dming-coffee-wizard/ 2024-04-18T20:06:53.000Z Students take the DM chair: one experienced kid and one first-timer run short encounters, including Coffee Wizard. D&D and Dungeon Mastering Beginner Resources https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/d-d-and-dungeon-mastering-beginner-resources/ 2024-02-17T17:49:07.000Z A practical starter stack for new DMs and players: free rules, videos, tools, and habits that actually help. Crafting Class Results https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/crafting-class-results/ 2023-12-18T11:09:26.000Z Student showcase night: custom miniatures and terrain from the crafting class, with photos of each creation. Mastery instead of XP or Milestone in D&D https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/mastery-instead-of-xp-or-milestone-in-d-d/ 2023-11-12T12:00:00.000Z Leveling by mastery of abilities instead of XP or milestones—especially useful when teaching new players. The story so far https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/the-story-so-far/ 2023-08-23T22:28:53.000Z Campaign recap before a new school year: the fall of Þýdal, the flight to Niðaróss, and where the kids pick up next. Using chatGPT to do research for D&D campaigns https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/using-chatgpt-to-do-research-for-d-d-campaigns/ 2023-07-13T21:11:49.000Z Jump-starting Norse-inspired campaign research with ChatGPT—races, gods, and historical flavor for educational play. Terrain Crafting Paint Choices https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/terrain-crafting-paint-choices/ 2023-01-01T10:00:00.000Z The paints and techniques I actually use for tabletop terrain—so you can copy a working palette instead of guessing. Character Package Example https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/character-package-example/ 2022-11-25T11:23:30.000Z A complete starter package for a new fairy bard: backstory, sheet, spell cards, and portrait art ready on day one. Improving your game with AI Art https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/improving-your-game-with-ai-art/ 2022-11-20T18:24:57.000Z Using MidJourney (and similar tools) for characters, monsters, and battle maps—without letting art slow the game. D&D isn't a video game https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/d-d-isn-t-a-video-game/ 2022-05-31T11:43:17.000Z Breaking the “balanced encounter” habit: how unbalanced challenges teach better play than video-game thinking. D&D Play Example https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/d-d-play-example/ 2022-05-28T23:51:21.000Z Deborah Ann Woll’s Relics and Rarities as a kid-friendlier play example than most streamed adult campaigns. D&D Resources: Great Character Sheets https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/d-d-resources-great-character-sheets/ 2022-04-20T13:44:40.000Z Class-specific, form-fillable character sheets from DM’s Guild that beat the generic PHB page for many tables. Can you get kids to slow down? https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/can-you-get-kids-to-slow-down/ 2022-04-10T23:51:48.000Z Using “caesura” at the table: getting rushed young players to listen, think, and enjoy the story more deeply. D&D Beginners Resource: Handbooker Helper https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/d-d-beginners-resource-handbooker-helper/ 2022-02-17T02:45:15.000Z Critical Role’s short Handbooker Helper videos—kid-shareable rules explainers without adult-campaign baggage. RPG Cards in Action https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/rpg-cards-in-action/ 2020-10-27T00:40:09.000Z Spell and ability cards sorted by Action, Bonus Action, and Reaction—so kids stay engaged on other people’s turns. Making RPG Cards the easy way https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/making-rpg-cards-the-easy-way/ 2020-10-14T21:19:56.000Z A free browser tool plus sample wild-shape and spell decks so kids can hold their abilities in their hands. On Choosing a Spear as your Main Adventuring Melee Weapon https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/on-choosing-a-spear-as-your-main-adventuring-melee-weapon/ 2020-10-06T12:00:00.000Z Why spears deserve a place as a main adventuring weapon—history, Viking-age campaigns, and practical table benefits. Making Slings Worthy https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/making-slings-worthy/ 2020-10-03T12:00:00.000Z House rule: give slings shortbow ranges with lead bullets so a one-handed ranged option (and Magic Stone) is actually viable. On Rules Complexity: Starting Kids With Sidekicks https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/on-rules-complexity-starting-kids-with-sidekicks/ 2020-09-23T17:55:13.000Z Why Essentials Kit sidekicks beat full class lists for new young players—and how three archetypes teach the game. Homebrewing monsters for kids, part 1 https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/homebrewing-monsters-for-kids-part-1/ 2020-08-19T22:01:00.000Z Turning Adventure Time penguins into kid-friendly Jotunheim foes—and why simple stat blocks win with young players. Kids love "parkour" https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/kids-love-parkour/ 2020-08-15T22:28:40.000Z A lava-rock “parkour” set piece on Muspelheim that kids still retell—simple to run, hard to forget. Promoting teamwork through magic items https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/promoting-teamwork-through-magic-items/ 2020-08-12T22:46:04.000Z The Bard’s Heart: a homebrew magic item that only helps someone else, nudging young players toward real teamwork. What to avoid, part 2 (player agency) https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/what-to-avoid-part-2-player-agency/ 2020-08-11T01:18:04.000Z Why Sleep and Hold Person can shut kids down—and practical ways to protect player agency at a youth table. What to avoid, part 1 (subject matter) https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/what-to-avoid-part-1-subject-matter/ 2020-08-05T23:55:00.000Z A parent-minded checklist of subjects to keep out of kids’ D&D—and how a graveyard mishap became a better adventure. Coding engaging enhancements for D&D https://teaching.ronhelwig.com/posts/coding-engaging-enhancements-for-d-d/ 2020-08-03T22:31:28.000Z Roll20 macros and API scripts that add spell and attack effects while cutting table busywork—free on GitHub.