Author: charlespicardgames

Gamer. Dad. Writer. Professional Actor (inactive but I've still got my SAG card). I've lived in just about every region of the US, so I feel like I've learned to get along with almost everyone. Currently residing in the East Bay (outside of Oakland, CA). I split my time between chasing my healthy young son around, writing & blogging, and trying to keep our household running. I've already made a number of great friendships in the area, and have fallen in with more than one gamer who enjoys exploring all sorts of systems. I love where we live; I finally feel like I've made it to a place I'm happy to call home.

Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – The Letter M – “Daddy, what does Gnoll sex look like?”

Thanks once again for dropping by my weekly feature, Irreverent Reading! It's where my son and I read the D&D Monster Manual and ask the, ahem, hard questions that others are afraid to... Dear Reader, whether or not you have kids of your own, you're probably aware of their ability to ask genuinely thought-provoking questions. … Continue reading Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – The Letter M – “Daddy, what does Gnoll sex look like?” →

Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – Letters I, J, K, & L – All the Mind Flayers’ Men

Thanks once again for dropping by my weekly feature, Irreverent Reading! It's where my son and I read between the lines of the Fifth Edition D&D Monster Manual to find gameable story-telling opportunities for you, Dear Reader! Even though I Hit the Wall last week I managed to fight through the malaise and get my … Continue reading Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – Letters I, J, K, & L – All the Mind Flayers’ Men →

Weekly Round-up: I Hit the Wall, Big Damn Hero 2, & One-to-One Play

I suppose the way to sum up this week is to talk about last Saturday morning. I didn't start my day with a hike or a jog, or a nice breakfast, or even a terrible breakfast... I literally crawled out of bed, started a bath, and got in the tub. My wife was like WTF? … Continue reading Weekly Round-up: I Hit the Wall, Big Damn Hero 2, & One-to-One Play →

Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – The Letter H – Home of the Tiny Construct

Thanks once again for dropping by my weekly feature, Irreverent Reading! It's where my son and I plumb the depths of the Fifth Edition D&D Monster Manual for those glistening narrative pearls... Now that we are rolling downhill, Xander seems more into the MM than he's been in awhile. We are reading a creature or … Continue reading Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – The Letter H – Home of the Tiny Construct →

The Mecha Hack Actual Play Ep. 2: Hard Lessons

Picking up where we left off last week... Starian and Thumper came out of their simulated battle to discover that their lunar base was under attack. Since they were already suited up, they headed out of a rupture in their hangar and onto the edge of the battlefield. LEEROY JENKINS!!! In classic 7-year-old aggro fashion, … Continue reading The Mecha Hack Actual Play Ep. 2: Hard Lessons →

Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – Midpoint Recap!

Thanks for dropping by my weekly feature, Irreverent Reading! It's where my son and I read every word of the Fifth Edition D&D Monster Manual, riffing and writing about what we find... We reached a couple of big milestones this week, so we are taking a moment to stop and look back. In the world … Continue reading Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual – Midpoint Recap! →

The Mecha Hack Actual Play Ep. 1: A Little Simulation

I've often wondered when I'd open the door to the realm of in-game violence for our son. Up to now we've played RPGs that either don't have a combat system, or that just aren't about physical conflict. I've known for a long time I was going to hold off on introducing him to the play … Continue reading The Mecha Hack Actual Play Ep. 1: A Little Simulation →

Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual from Gnolls to Grimlock – “Mean Little Fools…”

Thanks for spending some of your quarantine media consumption block to check out my weekly feature, Irreverent Reading! It's where my son and I read every word of the Monster Manual, dreaming and opining about what we find. As Xander does an online yoga class behind me for school, it's starting to feel like it's … Continue reading Irreverent Reading: D&D 5E Monster Manual from Gnolls to Grimlock – “Mean Little Fools…” →

Weekly Round-up: My Podcast Premiere, BattleTech/The Mecha Hack, We Play How to Host a Dungeon

Hunh, turned into kind of a big week around here when I wasn't looking! Champions NOW, right now! So I guess it took a pandemic to do it, but you can find me on my first ever podcast this week. MadJay Brown and I have been whiling away our Tuesday nights in the seedy meta-human … Continue reading Weekly Round-up: My Podcast Premiere, BattleTech/The Mecha Hack, We Play How to Host a Dungeon →