What’s the Crock Pot? Just a simmering bowl of lentils and herbs, with a dash of DMing observations. Don’t be afraid to dip in your ladle and stir, or throw in something from your own spice rack.

Gnomes shouldn’t drink and drive

The D&D Third Edition Arms and Equipment Guide is chock full of DMing goodies. My favorite is the list of ales and wines. From Dragonbite bitter to dwarven Garnet wine to even the gnomish golden light pilsner, there’s a better selection than the local convenience store’s cooler. Of course, in-game, do you really need such a choice? The average tavern will have two taps if you’re lucky: cheap and cheaper. So what? It’s fantasy. Even the lowliest tavern should have at least one bottle of the 100 gold piece Aleeian wine on hand for celebrations. Just be sure to bring along a designated adventurer.

I got your poison right here

For would-be assasins everywhere, the guide’s also got a full page of poisons, listing their injury types, initial and secondary damage, crafting DCs, and, of course, price. Some, like Carrion Crawler brain juice, are out of the DMG. Some are unique. Thever fumes cause blindness – so take care not to inhale.

Improbable, but true

You think a rhinocerous or a dire badger makes for an exotic mount?: How about this one? The guide has rules for making a gelatinous cube a mount, albeit a slow-moving one. The description says it’s not for the faint of heart. How true. But man, what a sight.