The Level 1 enchantment “Sleep” is one of those spells that everyone “wants” to use and seems like a great idea… but in the 2014 rules, after players hit Level 2 or 3, it was usually the caster that fell flat as opposed to the targets. Mechanically, it has been completely overhauled in the new rules, so let’s see if this classic crowd controller is still a snooze fest or if the fantasy that is a good night’s rest has finally come true.

There are only two cantrips in the 2024 PHB that hail from the school of Abjuration, and both have had some decent changes from 2014, making them better value for your action economy, but sadly still bearing a fatal flaw, which we’ll examine in a moment. The two spells in question today are Blade Ward and Resistance. As Abjuration spells, both of these cantrips are defensive options, with Blade Ward focusing on physical damage and Resistance on saving throws. Let’s get physic

Personally, I have no idea how a seemingly simple 10ft large cube of acidic Jello became the D&D icon that it is, but Gelatinous Cubes can trace their origins all the way back to 1st edition, where they haunted the 10x10 corridors of ubiquitous dungeons of Greyhawk and have appeared in every version of the game since.

D&D is better with friends. But if you can’t get your group organised... again... ever… wouldn’t it be great if you could make new friends who will always be around to play? Well, if you are a Cleric, Warlock or Wizard with a free level 6 spell slot, now you can! Simply ‘’find” the recently deceased bodies of three humanoids, give them some dice, cast “Create Undea…Friends!” and you’ve got 24 hours of fun!

I love trolls. They are gross, smell bad, and drive engagement with circular arguments based on personal preference that I can milk endlessly to get the number of comments on each video up… Oh! Wait, that’s next episode. Today we are talking about D&D Trolls, who are just as fun to engage with as a DM, especially when used on a party who have not battled them before. 

At Level 3 in the School of Abjuration, we find one of the most controversial entries in the Wizard / Sorcerer / Warlock spellbook – Counterspell. This arcane aspect has caused DMs and Players alike no end of grief and heartache in the 2014 rules, but in 2024, the designers flipped the script in a significant way, resulting in numerous gameplay flow-on effects. Make sure you’ve brought the snack bag folks, this one has more corner cases than The Dungeon of the Mad Mage himsel

If there was a “Best PR for a Merciless D&D Predator” award over the past 50 years it would surely go to the agent for the Owlbear. From its origins as a magical mishap in a wizard's workshop inspired by a misshapen toy dinosaur in Gary Gygax’s collection in 1975 to one of the most iconic and, dare I say, adored D&D creatures in the modern game, this fuzzy-feathery, large monstrosity has certainly turned on the charm.

Ok that’s enough chortling around with cantrips and common contrivances. It is time to peer at the pointy end of the spell spectrum. These are the Words of Power.

There is nothing more frightening in the D&D bestiary than creatures who ignore death saving throws… and at CR2, the Aberration known as Gibbering Mouther is possibly the first enemy with this horrifying ability that your party will encounter.

Welcome to the first instalment of “Creature Feature”, where each episode we will dissect a D&D 5e monster and see what makes it tick. The very first enemy players new to D&D in 5th edition most likely met as they rode their cart towards Phandalin in the Lost Mine Starter Set, were Goblins. So, it felt fitting to kick things off by grinding down this iconic monster family, which has undergone significant changes in the new rules.

This week I wanted to take a peek at an often overlooked Level 2 spell, Blindness/Deafness. This spell has seen some improvements made to it in the 2024 rules but also I feel is one that has a lot more in-game utility than it is given credit for.

Today we are conjuring up a forest of fey beasts as we take a dive into the 2014 Druid’s favourite (and every DM’s least favourite) spell, Conjure Animals, and see if the MASSIVE changes in the 2024 rules have nerfed it, or just made the DM’s nightmare worse.

Welcome to the first ever episode of "Spell Focus", where we cast an arcane eye over a D&D 5e spell and see how you can use it at your table. Let’s begin with perhaps the most cast spell ever… Cure Wounds.

G’day all, today I am announcing the launch of the Zalgariath Gaming YouTube channel, where we will take some deep dives into shallow pools of D&D lore and drag out whatever we find at the bottom. The videos will be short as a halfling, eloquent as a bard, and as trustworthy as that NPC quest giver who is wearing a black robe and a glowing ring with weird arcane symbols on it that your party's wizard can’t quite make out. I'd love for you to head over, check it out, and subsc

Pinko finally returns to his devastated home in the Neverwinter Woods, the Grove of the Furries, and learns what befell his Druid-kin.

The Mickale Trio awake in the dungeon of Triboar Keep. Separated, gearless, and with only their wits to aid them.

Smacky and Seepage flee the Order of the Gauntlet's trap in Westbridge while Pinko has to try to manage Moogs alone.

The ring of Keltar Dardragon has been activated and its ghostly apparition leads the Mickale Trio to a crumbling Old Watch Tower.

Making haste towards Pinko's Commune, the Mickale Trio face a roadblock that sees an escalation in Seepage's dealings with The Gauntlet.

Pinko & Seepage open up about what drives them while Smacky tries to cheer them up by finding something big to clobber.