I’ve recently been re-watching Alex Hirsch’s masterpiece, Gravity Falls—a Pacific Northwest adventure full of magic, cryptids, and mouthwatering mysteries. This is one of my favorite TV shows ever made, and what makes it even more fun is Alex’s hilarious references to D&D. (Seriously—there’s a whole episode on it. Go watch “Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons” featuring the hip-hop version of their in-world spoof, Diggity Dungeons & All That.)

There’s so much potential for both giggles and gasps in the madcap world of Gravity Falls (I’ve been working on a one-shot that I really need to stop procrastinating), but one standout aspect of the show is the hilarious, heart-wrenching, and unforgettable characters. If you want to bring some Gravity Falls goodness into your own game, here are a few suggestions for how to adapt your favorite characters into powerful, playable OCs.

It’s one of the most searched D&D terms on the internet: “how to make a good dungeon.” And no wonder. The dungeon crawl is a quintessential aspect of the game, else we’d be playing High-Rises and Humans or Shambling Mounds and Shopping Malls.

But what actually makes a dungeon fun? And how can you keep your players engaged, equipped, and emotionally captivated throughout a two-hour, four-hour, or even multi-session crawl?

I’m by no means a master builder, but I’ve crafted more than a few daring delves for my players. Whenever I feel like it’s time to venture beyond the open world and into the clutches of a deep, dark lair, here are a few factors I consider.

I could see it in my player’s eyes. Sure, we were on video, but he was not happy. The BBEG had succeeded in throwing the queen off the balcony, and unfortunately, after a full round of combat, there was little to be done to rescue her.

“But it’s only six seconds,” he argued. “That’s not how falling works.”

My engineering background begged to differ according to the free fall formula s = v₀t + ½gt². I did a quick search of falling rules (only damage is specified in The Player’s Handbook), but official rule arbitrator Chris Perkins had my back. A creature would fall 580 feet in one round, 1160 feet in two. Of course, there would be a bit of wind resistance, but the queen’s dress certainly wasn’t a parachute.

I could feel the player’s frustration through the screen. He didn’t agree with me, even though the rest of the table did. But, as a DM, it was up to me to make a decision, and that decision just so happened to put the players and the poor queen in a horrific situation.

For a full three seconds, the group was completely silent. You could have cut the air with a cheese grater.

When you play Dungeons and Dragons long enough, tension will happen. Tempers will flare. In a roleplaying game like D&D, you sometimes can’t help but get drawn into the drama. If you’re acting, strategizing, and thinking like a character, why shouldn’t you feel like them, too?

Hang out with a Dungeons and Dragons group long enough, and you’ll probably pick up on some tabletop tropes—maybe even the legendary struggle between so-called “Rules Lawyers” and believers of the “Rule of Cool.” Rules Lawyers are often depicted as insufferable, know-it-all nerds with an encyclopedic knowledge of the game, always gleefully ready to pull out some obscure regulation that’s sure to spoil everyone’s fun. On the other hand, those who play by the proverbial Rule of Cool—that is, bending or even trashing certain rules in order to make things more fun, interesting, and/or triumphant—can be seen as sloppy, disorganized, or even just plain cringe.

These two caricatures are often portrayed as opposing forces engaged in an epic battle that has raged since time immemorial, but in my humble, bardic opinion, I’ve found the topic to be much more complicated than a 1v1 showdown. The debate between Rules Lawyers and the Rule of Cool isn’t an “either/or” or even an “us-versus-them” discussion, and for both players and DMs, either style can have both pros and cons.

Above all, D&D should be a fun, engaging, safe, and inclusive space for everyone at the table. So instead of throwing ourselves into one camp or another, let’s explore why both sides have their merits—and when we might want to use one philosophy over the other.

D&D (owned by Wizards of the Coast, owned by Hasbro) is more than just a game—it’s also a brand and a business. There are endless tools, accessories, and add-ons available for purchase, and you can spend quite a pretty penny when it comes to buying books, constructing intricately scaled landscapes in the middle of your living room, and/or developing a crippling dice addiction.

However, one of the best things about Dungeons and Dragons (in my humble bardic opinion) is that you can absolutely play for free. Whether you’re a first-time player or the forever DM, there are countless official and fan-made resources that won’t put you out a single copper piece.

This list could very well be endless, but here are a few of my personal favorites.