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In AD&D 1st Edition, the Cleric was built as something much bigger: part warrior, part miracle worker, part religious authority, and eventually someone capable of becoming a major force in the campaign world. In this episode of The Black Notebook, I look at what the Cleric was actually supposed to represent, how First Edition connected divine magic to faith and conduct, why higher level Clerics became religious leaders, and what modern Dungeon Masters and players can still learn from that design today.This episode was suggested by channel supporter Loyd B. Thanks for the idea and for supporting the channel.

In this episode, we look at why Gary Gygax designed dungeons as living environments, how wandering monsters, torchlight, spell durations, and exploration all worked together, and why this old-school philosophy can make any dungeon feel more dangerous and believable, no matter what edition you play. Whether you’re an AD&D veteran or a 5E Dungeon Master looking for new ideas, this is one classic design philosophy worth stealing.

I’m at Gen Con 2026! In this special episode of The Black Notebook, I talk about the games I played, including HARP and Rolemaster Unified, what I picked up from Palladium, Catalyst and others, and what the convention looks like for an old-school gamer in 2026. I also talk about the surprising lack of classic RPG material, meeting listeners who recognized me, and a very unexpected moment with the folks at Palladium Books. This one is just me, my notebook, and a few days at Gen Con.

In this episode, I look at what made the AD&D 1st Edition troll such an unforgettable monster. We’ll dig into its frightening regeneration, surprising speed, brutal attacks, and the psychology behind why experienced players feared them. We’ll also compare how trolls have changed over the years and why the original version still deserves its reputation as one of fantasy gaming’s greatest nightmares. If you’ve ever watched your party panic as a troll’s wounds closed before your eyes, this episode is for you.

That’s one of the most common claims you’ll hear, but it’s not what Gary Gygax actually wrote. In this video, we go back to the original AD&D books to see what Deities & Demigods really says about divine beings, their avatars, and why so many people have misunderstood these rules for decades. We’ll look at why gods were given game statistics, what an avatar actually is, and why those hit points were never meant to represent a true deity. If you’ve only heard the internet’s version of this debate, you may be surprised by what the original books actually say.

Welcome to the Black Notebook Podcast, enjoy the ride! New Trailer for 2026 and going forward! Website: https://TheEvilDM.com & https://blacknotebook.orgSupport: https://Patreon.com/TheEvilDMTwitter/X: @TheEvilDMEmail: AsktheDM(@)TheEvilDM.comFacebook: https://FB.com/TheEvilDungeonMaster

The Knight is one of the most iconic images in fantasy, but in AD&D First Edition, it was never a player class. So why do so many people remember it that way? In this episode, I look at where that idea came from, how the Cavalier and Paladin filled that role, and why the classic armored knight existed more as an ideal than a character class. We’ll also talk about chivalry, mounted combat, and how the rules expected you to become a knight through your actions, not by checking a box on your character sheet. What are your thoughts? Did your group ever use Cavaliers, or did your Fighters become knights through roleplaying?

Hirelings were never just background characters in AD&D 1st Edition. They carried torches, guarded the camp, hauled treasure, and sometimes saved the entire party from disaster. In this episode of The Black Notebook, I look at why hirelings were an expected part of the game, how they changed the way adventures played, and why so many modern groups have left them behind. If you've ever wondered why old school parties seemed so much larger than today's adventuring groups, this episode explains why.Keep up with me: theevildm.com/p/links.html

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, we explore one of the oldest tricks in AD&D, using sound to build tension. From scratching behind a stone wall, to distant footsteps, strange whispers, and something breathing just beyond the torchlight, sound can create fear long before initiative is rolled.

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, we’re talking about one of the most debated mechanics in D&D, Save or Die. Was it unfair? Was it bad game design? Or was it an important part of what made old school play so tense? Let me know what you think in the comments or jump on over to Youtube and comment there.

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I look at Tucker’s Kobolds, one of the most famous old school D&D stories ever printed in Dragon Magazine. These were ordinary kobolds, weak on paper, but deadly in play because the DM used terrain, tunnels, fire, murder holes, traps, and panic to turn them into a nightmare.

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I take a look at why orcs were genuinely feared in early AD&D, how they were presented in the rulebooks, and what made them such a serious threat to player characters. If you’ve ever wondered why old school players didn’t charge blindly into every fight, the answer may be waiting in an orc lair. https://theevildm.com https://blacknotebook.org

Ever wonder why monsters in old school D&D didn’t always fight to the bitter end? The answer is monster morale, one of the most overlooked rules in the game. In early D&D and AD&D, monsters weren’t expected to stand their ground until the last hit point. Goblins fled. Orcs surrendered. Bandits broke and ran. Even intelligent villains often chose survival over a hopeless fight. In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I take a look at monster morale, why it existed, how it made dungeons feel more alive, and why it created better adventures. Sometimes the most interesting monster in the dungeon is the one that survives the encounter.

In this episode of The Black Notebook Podcast, I talk about why wandering monsters mattered so much in old school AD&D, how they changed player behavior, and why modern games often lost that tension. Because once time mattered, every decision mattered too. https://TheEvilDM.com https://blacknotebook.org

Can a character with bad stats still matter in D&D?In this episode, I talk about “Hopeless Characters” in old school D&D, using the Holmes Basic blurb and AD&D as the starting point. Bad ability scores do not always mean a bad character. Sometimes the weak fighter, the fragile magic-user, or the average nobody becomes the one everyone remembers.This is about 3d6 character creation, survival, risk, and why old school D&D did not need every character to start as a hero.