Welcome to the Den! Z (your friendly neighborhood NPC) and his guest, Logan, discuss crafting compelling villains in tabletop RPGs. Logan shares his seven years of experience in D&D 5e, highlighting his fun bard/warlock hybrid and a gnome ranger/wizard.

They dive into memorable villains: Logan recalls Count Strahd from Curse of Strahd—a villain whose mere name can draw his gaze—and a terrifying homebrew foe who instantly wiped out an NPC friend with Power Word Kill. Z and Logan agree that fearsome, impactful villains elevate the game. They also discuss villains with sympathetic backstories—like a fallen noble driven to form a cult after losing everything.

Logan shares a personal character story—a tiefling sorcerer who, after a traumatic attack on his parents by a cult tied to his dragon-based magic, began to fear his own power. This story underscores how thin the line can be between hero and villain.

The episode closes with Z’s signature sign-off, wishing everyone a Nat 20 when they need it most!