Z.I.N.E. Issue 2026.01
It turns out we do have some insight
Well, I finally did it. After months of drafting, rewriting, and arguing with layout software about where the page numbers should go, the first issue of Z.I.N.E. (Zero Insight, No Experience) is officially live (on itch.io and not paywalled).
The title is a bit of a lie, of course. We have plenty of experience—mostly experience in panicking when the players go left instead of right, or realizing mid-session that a binary “pass/fail” check just killed the entire vibe of the evening. This zine is my attempt to fix those moments. It’s a collection of essays, settings, and tools for the GM who wants to dig a little deeper into the how and why of the hobby.
Here is a look at what you’ll find in these 74 pages:
The 4th Edition Skill Challenge: We’re dragging the corpse of D&D 4e out of the grave to steal its best idea. It’s an autopsy of the math and a guide on how to use it today without bogging down your game.
Aethelgard: A kingdom of a setting I’ve been brewing for years. It’s a place defined by “The Fading,” where stone rots like meat and the bureaucracy continues even as the world dissolves. It’s cheerful stuff, I promise.
Death to “Nothing Happens”: An essay on moving beyond binary success and failure. We talk about failing forward, rolling for intent, and why the dice should be co-authors of the chaos.
The Soul of Stone (Part 1): We’re kicking off a 13-part series on megadungeon creation. But put the graph paper away—we aren’t drawing maps yet. First, we have to figure out the “Root Truth.”
Wild Hexes: Seven drop-in wilderness locations ruled by Hags. From the crushing noise of the Shale Hag to the frozen desperation of the Rime Hag, these are ready to kill—er, challenge—your players.
It’s open, it’s licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, and it’s ready for your table.
Grab your copy here on itch.io
A massive thank you to my home group (Shy Mark and Veteran Viola, you know who you are) for letting me test this stuff on you. Let me know what you think, and happy rolling.