Behind the Die: Stepping Back, Rolling Forward

If you’ve been wondering where Behind the Die disappeared to since December—first, thank you for noticing. Second, thank you for your patience.

The end of last year was one of those stretches where creativity didn’t vanish, but it did slow to a simmer. Between life, work, and the quiet recalibration that tends to happen when the calendar turns, I stepped away from posting—not because the dice stopped rolling, but because I needed to listen more than speak.

Now it’s a new year, and that familiar spark is back.

A Pause Doesn’t Mean the Game Ended

Anyone who’s run a long campaign knows this truth: sometimes the party camps for the night. You sharpen blades, mend armor, reread spell notes, and quietly think about what comes next. That’s what this absence was for me—a long rest, not a character retirement.

Behind the scenes, ideas were stacking up. Maps were half-drawn. NPCs were arguing with me in my head. Systems were being tweaked, broken, and rebuilt. And slowly, the excitement returned—not just to make, but to share again.

A New Year, New Adventures

This year, Behind the Die is doubling down on what it’s always been about: the joy of building worlds and inviting others to explore them.

On the fantasy side, I’m continuing to dive deeper into the world of Dungeons & Dragons—crafting adventures that lean into mystery, moral tension, and player choice. Expect more behind-the-screen looks at adventure design, encounters that tell stories, and the creative decisions that turn a session into a memory your table won’t forget.

At the same time, the gears are spinning once again in the brass-and-steam corners of Tephra: The Steampunk RPG. This setting continues to challenge me in the best ways—blending cinematic action, inventive technology, and character-driven drama. I’m excited to share more about encounter design, multi-act scenarios, and how steampunk storytelling opens doors that traditional fantasy sometimes can’t.

What to Expect from Behind the Die

Going forward, you’ll see:

• Design insights from active projects (the successes and the false starts)

• System-agnostic ideas you can steal for your own tables

• Deep dives into both fantasy and steampunk storytelling

• And the occasional reminder that creativity doesn’t need to be rushed to be meaningful

This blog has always been about the space behind the dice—the choices we make as storytellers, the worlds we build between rolls, and the reasons we keep coming back to the table.

Thanks for Waiting at the Table

If you’ve stuck around since December, I appreciate you more than you know. If you’re new here, welcome—pull up a chair, the game’s just getting interesting.

The dice are back in my hand.
Let’s see where they land.

— Charlie Stayton
Behind the Die