Welcome to Blog Profiles! Each week, we select a topic and handful of blogs that do a great job contributing to the conversation. Do you have a blog that deserves recognition? Tweet our writers at @BeyondBylines.

One of my really close friends recently started playing Dungeons & Dragons.

I know little about D&D other than what I learned from watching a really awful movie in the early 2000s — and I’m pretty sure that had nothing to do with the actual game.

I’ve been trying, and failing, to learn more about it so that we can play when we eventually expand our friendship group to more than just us.

In my quest to develop my Dungeons & Dragons knowledge, I found these blogs especially helpful.

1. DM David

David has been involved with D&D for more than 30 years and is a judge at other gaming conventions. The blog shows his real insight for the game.

One of the things I really love about David’s blog is the comment section. It’s really active with people participating and responding to posts, which is more than I see on most blogs. It feels like a really inclusive community.

Here are some of my faves: How to Run Better D&D Games By Doing Less; and How Much Talk at Your Game Table Reaches Into the Game World?

Follow @DMDavidblog on Facebook.

2. Sly Flourish

I was drawn to this blog because a lot of the information is for beginner Dungeon Masters who don’t have a lot of experience playing the game. The owner of the site, Mike Shea, begins with an informative compilation of articles that provide the beginner with tips on how to become a better Dungeon Master.

Here are some posts I liked: Making a Great Handout; and D&D DM Tip Generator.

Follow @slyflourish on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SlyFlourish/status/1189726142590271488

3. Hipsters & Dragons

This blog also starts with an informative post explaining the ins-and-outs of D&D, which is always helpful for someone with issues grasping even the most basic concepts (like me, for example).

Blogger Duncan first started playing D&D in Barcelona in 2015 and made this blog to turn the usual assumptions about D&D players on their head. The blog numbers its tips, making it easy for anyone to follow.

Posts I enjoyed: 6 Alternatives to Starting an Adventure in a Tavern; and Rage Against the Mainstream: The Ultimate 5E Barbarian Guide.

Follow @hipstersdragons on Twitter.

I analyse why "so you all meet in a tavern" is the starting point of 95% of #DnD adventures. 🍻

Plus I suggest six cool alternative ways to kick off your quest… ⚔️https://t.co/gVgIRaG9Fj #dnd5e pic.twitter.com/lgS1n65eAI

— Duncan Rhodes (D&D Blogger & Designer) 🇺🇦 (@HipstersDragons) August 27, 2019

4. Merric’s Musings

This blog might be a little advanced for me, someone who has literally NEVER played Dungeons & Dragons, but I like it because of the reviews. I am a big fan of anyone reviewing anything (big follower of theneedledrop on YouTube).

Merric reviews scenarios and runs, which is informative if you don’t want to waste your time on a scenario you might not enjoy.

Posts I loved: 5E Adventure Review: The Only Way to be Sure; and 5E Adventure Review: Blood in the Water.

Follow @MerricB on Twitter.

I've ordered https://t.co/69qfjdF3df from the DMs Guild (PDF and Hardcover). This looks like a fascinating product. #dnd

— Merric Blackman (@MerricB) October 26, 2019

P.S. Ever wonder how we come up with ideas for our blog profiles? Our handy list of industries and subjects on PR Newswire for Journalists stays top of mind. If you’re a blogger or journalist looking for gaming news, let us know. We can customize a newsfeed for you.

Savannah Tanbusch is a team lead and editor for PRWeb. She spends a lot of her free time thinking about dogs and playing video games. Follow her at @tanbusch.