I’m John and this is where I share what happens at my table and what’s on my mind as a tabletop referee.
Dining Table Adventures is a space for my honest thoughts, hands-on experience, and interests within the world of tabletop roleplaying games. While I have a particular love for Old School Renaissance (OSR) games – the kind focused on player skill, exploration, and dangerous dungeons—the topics here roam as freely as the adventurers on a hexcrawl.
Here’s what you’ll find in this zine:
- The Stories Behind the Screen: Stories and session reports from my own game; the triumphs, the failures, and the absurd moments that happen when you roll dice with friends.
- Game Theory & Practice: Thoughts on design, mechanics, and the art of Refereeing.
- Things I Like: Deep dives into the books, zines, rulesets and resources that have excited me, inspired me, or completely changed the way I run a game.
- General Musings: Reflections on the state of the hobby, TTRPG culture, and the evolution of my personal play style over the years.
Whether you’re looking for an efficient prep trick, a story about a truly terrible player decision, or just some inspiration for your next session, you’ll find a seat ready at the dining table.
Welcome. Let’s talk games.