Richard Bailey
Bio
I am currently working on expanding my writing topics and exploring different areas and topics of writing. I have a personal history with a very severe form of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
Stories (594)
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5 Easy Dungeon Master Tricks to Keep Players Engaged (Without Relying on Combat)
As a Dungeon Master, nothing’s worse than seeing your players check their phones mid-session. You’ve prepped the perfect dungeon, mapped every corridor, and statted out the boss... but somehow, their attention drifts. Sound familiar?
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Gamers
The Broken Word – Part 3
The route to the Thorned Archive’s remnants lay through the Hollowwood—a forest not mapped by any cartographer still in possession of their sanity. Trees grew in spirals, bark blackened with old warding runes, and fog clung low to the mossy ground like breath that wouldn’t leave.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Chapters
The Broken Word – Part 2
The mountain trail that led to the Oathkeeper’s Grave was older than memory and twice as bitter. Vaelin led the way, his boots crunching over frostbitten pine needles. The path narrowed along a steep ridge where ancient prayer flags fluttered from twisted branches—most had rotted into shreds, their sigils faded by wind and time. The forest here was silent. Not dead, but listening.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Chapters
How to Start a D&D Campaign from Scratch (For Busy DMs)
Starting a Campaign Doesn’t Have to Take Forever Launching a Dungeons & Dragons campaign can feel like preparing for a one-person Broadway show. World-building, story arcs, character hooks, maps, NPCs—it's easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you’re a busy Dungeon Master juggling work, life, and maybe a few other hobbies.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Gamers
The Art of DMing: How to Keep Your Players Engaged
Dungeon Mastering (DMing) is more than just running encounters and narrating dungeons. It's a blend of storytelling, improvisation, and interpersonal finesse. One of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of being a Dungeon Master is keeping players engaged throughout a campaign. Whether you're orchestrating an epic tale of political intrigue or managing a classic dungeon crawl, maintaining player interest is essential to a successful and memorable game.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Gamers
How to Stop Living on Autopilot and Start Taking Control of Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mindful Living
Are you tired of feeling like you're just going through the motions every day? If so, you're not alone. More and more people are searching for ways to "stop living on autopilot" and take back control of their lives.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Longevity
D&D 5e: Optimizing Your Character's Backstory for Gameplay
Creating a character in Dungeons & Dragons 5e is more than just picking stats and spells — it’s about telling a story. Your character's backstory is the foundation for roleplaying, storytelling, and personal engagement throughout the campaign. But how do you write a compelling backstory that also enhances your gameplay? This guide will walk you through the steps to optimize your D&D 5e character’s backstory for maximum roleplay, immersion, and synergy with your party and campaign.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Gamers
How Stress Affects Sleep and What You Can Do About It
Stress and sleep are deeply connected. While occasional stress is a normal part of life, chronic stress can wreak havoc on your ability to get a good night’s rest. The more stressed you feel, the harder it is to sleep—and the less you sleep, the more stressed you may become. It’s a vicious cycle that can leave you feeling physically drained and emotionally overwhelmed.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Longevity
The Pale Thorn Pact - Part 5
The city of Calvenholde was silent beneath a veil of mist. The frost still clung to its rooftops, and the river had not yet thawed from the long winter. Morning light filtered weakly through the clouded sky, catching on spires, chimneys, and copper-burnished watchtowers. It was a city old enough to have forgotten half its sins and rich enough to bury the rest.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Chapters
Understanding Sleep Cycles: How to Wake Up Refreshed
Waking up feeling groggy and unrested, even after a full night’s sleep, is a common experience. The culprit? Disrupted sleep cycles. When it comes to feeling truly rested, it’s not just about how long you sleep—it’s about how you sleep. In this guide, we’ll explore sleep cycles explained in detail, the science behind feeling refreshed, and how you can harness this knowledge to wake up energized every morning.
By Richard Bailey9 months ago in Longevity
