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Archives of Endeavor
Here lie the records of past labors, essays, guides, manifestos, and chronicles; each a testament to thought, craft, and the pursuit of mastery. Browse, reflect, and perhaps draw inspiration, for these entries preserve the work of hours spent in creation, contemplation, and the shaping of worlds.
The Tenets of Play: A Referee’s Guide to Reactive Sandbox Adventure
Date 07 Feb 2026
Written By: Dan Paton
Project Tag: Chronicles of the Table
In this post I document a rule I follow for keeping sandbox play active and how to offer structure to unstructered play.
Gazetteer 1: The Woad Woods
Date 18 Jan 2026
Written By: Dan Paton
Project Tag: Chronicles of the Table
This article serves as a introduction gazetteer of the Woad, a land where mortal ambition, fae tradition, and ancient will collide beneath the unseen governance of older powers. Within these pages are recorded the regions, holdings, rulers, and wild places that define the Woad’s present age, not as fixed truths but as living conditions subject to change, decay, and dramatic upheaval. It is written for travelers, chroniclers, and would-be heroes who seek understanding before passage, offering warning as much as guidance.
A Primer for the Uninitiated
Date 15 Jan 2026
Written By: Dan Paton
Project Tag: Chronicles of the Table
a primer for those about to enter the classical mode of adventure gaming, wherein wit is prized above numbers and peril is ever-present. It sets forth the philosophical foundations of such play, emphasizing rulings over rules, disciplined procedure, genuine threat, and advancement measured not by power alone but by legacy and lasting mark upon the world. Intended to prepare the Player’s mind as much as their character sheet, it is an exhortation toward caution, ingenuity, and resolve.
The Conduct of Adventuring: A Framework for Company and Master
Date 14 Jan 2026
Written By: Dan Paton
Project Tag: Chronicles of the Table
A comprehensive guide to the structure of play in tabletop adventuring. From the phases of exploration to the offices of responsibility, this framework equips both Dungeon Masters and players to achieve clarity, order, and dramatic tension at the table.
Why Write When None Will Read?
Date 14 Jan 2026
Written By: Dan Paton
Project Tag: The Typist Revolution
An introspective declaration on the purpose of writing in a world distracted by digital noise. This post explores the discipline and liberation found in pen, paper, and typewriter, and the rewards of creating for one’s own mind first, audience second.
A Manifesto Against the Digital Decay
Date 12 Dec 2025
Written By: Dan Paton
Project Tag: The Typist Revolution
A call to arms against the encroaching domination of screens, social media, and addictive technologies. This post outlines a path to reclaiming focus, freedom, and creative agency, advocating for deliberate resistance to digital overreach.
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