Becoming a game master in my own D&D campaign is a recent goal of mine. Last Saturday, I was fortunate to be included in a one shot campaign using the rules from Monsters and Other Childish Things. Players take on the role of children whose best friends are monsters as you play through a custom story about surviving the school day. Ironically, our story didn’t even occur on school grounds instead happening during a sleepover at my character’s house. This campaign can be adapted into a longer campaign or a one-shot which is what my group did on Saturday.

One shot campaigns are campaigns that begin and end on the same day. Most D&D campaigns I have heard of continue for weeks or months. I like that one shots are short because if you’re schedule is as chaotic as mine is, it’s difficult to carve time for a D&D campaign weekly.

I was required to draw Mr. Waffles, so this is what I came up with.

Ellie Ferguson is the character I created myself. She’s a sassy 7th grader living with her dad, little sister and her monster. Unfortunately, her mother passed away when she was young, so her dad struggles to put food on the table. This circumstance has influenced Ellie to be overprotective over her little sister. Ellie’s monster is named Mr. Waffles who is an orange tabby cat when he’s happy. If Mr. Waffles is threatened, he turns into this raging orange lion monster complete with a sword. Mr. Waffles also has menacing claws that when he scratches his opponent, an ooze leaks from his claws that causes his enemies to hallucinate.

My character sheet for Ellie Ferguson.

Over the course of the story, Ellie’s father starts dating a woman who turns out to be a witch. The big conclusion to this story is when Mr. Waffles is fighting her in the house. Mr. Waffles constantly is scratching her head to cause her to go insane because of the ooze that leaks from his claws. Also Mr. Waffles can breath fire so the house burned away ultimately collapsing on the evil witch, killing her.

My inspiration for Mr. Waffles. This is Ajani from Magic the Gathering. Photo by Magic & Wizards of the Coast.

D&D is a way I can express my creative side by envisioning Mr. Waffles walking alongside Ellie. Monsters and Other Childish Things can be found at a local game store that carries D&D handbooks. Otherwise the book can be found online in paperback and PDF format. Hopefully, the more experience I get role playing, the more comfortable I would be in being a game master.