Diplomancer

This one requires explanation.  In the 3.5 edition of dungeons and dragons there is the skill diplomacy.  It allows you to improve the attitude of npcs towards your character.  Attitudes range from hostile to fanatical follower (epic usage).  The problem is the difficulty of the skill check is a fixed number.  A low fixed number.  Low enough that a moderately optimized PC, usually the bard, has a chance of turning an intelligent hostile force into their bestest buddies in the same time it takes the fighter to swing his sword once.  As you might guess, this can cause problems.  I firmly believe that TJ thyne's character in Validation is one.  The difference from him and a normal PC is that he uses his skills for good and awesome, not selfish ends.  If you haven't watched the short.   Go watch now.

Art from this
LooneyDM out

Hobbies

Face it.  It doesn't matter how geeky you think you are, there's always someone geekier.  Such is the way of all hobbies.  Despite that assertion, this is up there on the list.
Art from here
LooneyDM out

Smiling Dragon

Don't you know that a smiling dragon is a happy dragon?  Of course a happy dragon usually means the party is about to have their asses handed to the.  Or some other similarly undue ending to their adventure.  On the other hand.  Just because someone is smiling doesn't mean they know something you don't know, or have an ace up their sleeve.  It could be a ruse.  After all you don't know if the DM is smiling because there's disaster ahead or because he's amused that the dragon has no chance of winning this fight.  I know I've had players second guess themselves because of how I've described the scene in front of them.  A few suggestions that the encounter isn't all it seems, even if it is, can add tension that makes the encounter.  It's all in how you sell it.
Art from here
LooneyDM out

Monster Smiles

Sometimes your monsters are like your players.  At least in the way they smile.  Of course when monsters smile all players should be worried.  No good can come of smiling monsters.  Especially smiling dragons.  That of course is another poster entirely.  Which may be friday's poster.  But smiling monsters can't be good for the players.  After all if the monster thinks things are going well it shouldn't be something the players want.  At least not usually.  I'm sure bards would have stuff to say about it.  Spoony Bards!

Art from here
LooneyDM out

Weather Mages

Mages are a crazy bunch.  Especially weather mages.  I know I'd try to make it rain bears if I was a weather mage.  Right after I made it rain cats and dogs.  Literally.  Don't look at me like that.  You know you would too.  Just stay away from calling down the oobleck.  At least in your own country.  Good idea for warfare but not something you want to clean up yourself. 

LooneyDM out

Highly Lethal Systems

I can't say I'm a fan of highly lethal systems, but boy do they make for some crazy joke imagery.  The concept of a room where everything is trapped harkens back to the joke about the kobold silverware drawer.  Specifically that it isn't a drawer full of silverware, it's simply one really well trapped fork.  Which is why kobold kitchens are so large.

Art from GIS for D&D traps
LooneyDM out

Magitek

Why advance your science when you have lots of magic to go around.  Especially if that includes enough to launch castles in to orbit among the stars.  I'm always intrigued by magic as science worlds.  Because they lay down different rules about this possibly unlimited energy source that powers entire economies and countries.  It's one of the reasons I find D&D's Eberron so inviting.  This contrasts starkly with settings like greyhawk where the implications of the higher level magic users doesn't trickle down to the lowest levels so there's a disconnect between where you start out and soon after you gain a few levels.  I have to admit I've not been much a fan of the "medieval europe but there's some magic dudes running around that have no effect on anything other than creating random monsters and dungeons for the party to fight" settings.  Still haven't read planescape or spelljammer though I've heard those are good.  Some of the most amusing thought exercises I've read involved figuring out how all these magical people running around would change things from the medieval cesspool where most settings begin.

Art from here
LooneyDM out

Mad Scientist

More BBEGs need to be mad scientists.  After all only the players will appreciate their true insane genius.  And I do mean players, not player characters.  You've seen what your players come up with and you know they'll approve of your latest villain's scheme, at least off screen.  Also double the dragons, double the fun.  At least that's what I assume.  Unless you're on the receiving end. 

LooneyDM out

Nuke the Galaxy

Have you every had one of those players.  The ones that just have to see how ridiculous they can get with a system.  The ones that push the system to the utter limits of what is possible, even if it is improbable and outside of what the designers intended.  The ones that make the commoner railguns, the infinite speed grapple ball and multiple other crazy things you didn't know the system technically allowed due to rules oversights.  They can be fun for a time but man some of the hijinks get out of hand.  Like drowning yourself to revive yourself.  Theoretical optimization definitely needs to stay theoretical and out of games, because as fun as it is to point out crazy system quirks, abusing them mid game can cause a lot of problems.  Especially if you blow up the entire campaign world.

LooneyDM out

Updated Classics

I have to apologize for missing Monday.  I don't know what came over me.  The classic tales have stayed classics for so long simply because they resonate so well with us.  And because we're told them over and over again.  I'd say old stories updated is becoming a thing, but it's been a thing for as long as recorded human history.  Maybe it's just the tv I've been watching.  I like to do both humorous and inspiring posters.  I hope you find this one inspiring.

Art from here
LooneyDM out

Marvelous Pigments

 The marvelous pigments are an unusual item.  Which is what makes them so much fun.  Paint what you want and it becomes real.  This one comes straight out of legend and fairy tale.  I'd prefer if all magic items were like the marvelous pigments.  No more +x to attack, damage, stat, saves, etc items.  Those can burn.  The only magic items should be those that give you different or new capabilities outside of what your class can do normally.  Obviously this is easier to do for the less magical classes.  But still.  No more +x items.  Only special stuff like Marvelous pigments and decanters of endless water!
Art from here
LooneyDM out

Quotes from new 4e game I'm running:

*Gniff brings fourth all his might and cleaves greatly.
Ideos: (( but there's only three of them ))

Ideos: (( Make it explode   ))
Lamm: (( Yes! Explode it! ))
Msamaki: (( hmmm... ))
Ideos: (( Less thinking more exploding ))

LooneyGM: (( congratulations, you have knocked a snake prone ))

Ideos: (( You find God. Before the divine characters did. Bastard. ))

Ideos: "I'll go down first and send a signal if I find something."
Eneki: (( I assume his signal is going to be "oh my god snakes, so many snakes" ))

LooneyGM: (( sorry, the trap has been bloodied for a few shots now ))
Msamaki: (( ... that's our blood on it. ))

Hanif: "Never before I have faced such a powerful foe."
Lamm: "...It was a top."
Hanif: "It may of been a top, but it was also a warrior worthy of respect."

Gniff: (( for once in my life, i would be delicious ))

Lamm: (( Ha ha haaaaa. "Oh hey, doggies! Should I attack them? Hmm... well, one IS gnawing on my leg and the other IS trying to get at my throat..." ))

Gniff: (( we just need to go do some low level quests, you know the ones where we need to go get 5 rat's tails ))

Lamm: (( Resting. This junk room seems like an inviting place to nap! ))
Lamm: (( It's quaintly decorated with dead jackals ))

LooneyGM: (( what did you take for your 1st level item? ))
Eneki: (( item of forgetfulness =/ ))

Eneki: (( it only works when I do it for you ))
*4e Warlords*

Msamaki: (( WAI AM I IN FRONT? ))

Lamm rolls: 1d20+5 diplomacy => 20 + 5 = 25
Msamaki: (( did that knock the angle prone? ))
Gniff: (( by shear awesomeness ))
Lamm: (( What, like an obtuse angle? ))

Msamaki: (( clearly we need the bat signal for this quest. ))