GM Tools & Resources
The Forge generates the same kind of prep these books collect — encounters, NPCs, traps, puzzles, villains, d100 tables — except it tunes them to your party and re-rolls in a second. Free, built on the open SRD.
The books below are what we read to get better at the craft, and they go deeper than any generator will. We link out to buy them and we never copy their content.
Random Encounter
Monster + hook + terrain, CR-tuned to your party.
Roll one →
NPC
Name + race + role + alignment + quirk + hook.
Roll one →
Patron
Name + type + gift + price + meeting scene.
Roll one →
Proactive RP
An NPC who shows up uninvited, with a goal and a way to derail the party.
Roll one →
d100 Table
A 100-row table on 10 themes (tavern, dungeon, planar, ...).
Roll one →
Culture
A name, a region, a custom, a social rule.
Roll one →
Dungeon Room
A single room: name + feature + occupant + treasure + exits.
Roll one →
Legendary Creature
A high-CR monster with a lair, a hook, and a weakness.
Roll one →
Minion Group
A warband of 1-8 named minions, each with a one-line brief.
Roll one →
Puzzle
Clue chain + false leads + answer + hint.
Roll one →
Religion
A deity, a domain, an alignment, a sacred symbol, a ritual, a prayer.
Roll one →
Trap
Trigger + effect + detect/disable DCs + consequence.
Roll one →
Villain
Name + type + motivation + scheme + weakness + hook.
Roll one →
Every result re-rolls from a seed you can share by link, and pieces snap together — drop a villain or a legendary creature straight into an encounter.
Each book is paired with the generator that covers the same ground, so you can try the tool first and buy the book when you want the theory.
Tags: bosses, dragons, dungeons, high level, maps, minions, npc generator, npcs, one-shots, puzzles, random encounters, random tables, roleplay, session zero, tactics, techniques, townsfolk, traps, villains, worldbuilding
7 books
Jeff Ashworth · Jetpack7 · 2020
500+ customizable maps, tables, and story hooks for 5e adventures on demand. 97 maps, 150+ tables, a one-shot generator, and a Random NPC generator.
Do it here
Jeff Ashworth · Jetpack7 · 2021
500+ bartenders, brawlers, mages, merchants, royals, rogues, sages, sailors, warriors, and weirdos — ready to populate your campaign. Includes 50+ hand-drawn illustrations and 3 bonus one-shots.
Do it here
Jeff Ashworth · Jetpack7 · 2022
60+ RPG puzzles, 60+ unique dnd traps, and 50 modular dungeon chambers — designed to push PCs to their limit. Three one-shot campaigns included.
Do it here
Aaron Hübrich · Jetpack7 · 2022
24+ epic dragons with complete backstories, history, motivations, lair actions, and legendary combat. Dragon cults, dragon riders, and aerial combat included.
Do it here
Ben Egloff · Jetpack7 · 2023
300+ roll tables for worldbuilding, storytelling, locations, magic, and more. Three bonus one-shot adventures included.
Do it here
Jonah Fishel · Jetpack7 · 2025
Convert your sessions from predictable action/reaction clichés to player-driven narratives. Foreword by Ginny Di, afterword by Jeff Ashworth.
Do it here
Aaron Hübrich · Jetpack7 · 2023
Epic new antagonists for your PCs, plus new minions, fighting tactics, and guidelines for 5e adventures.