Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-08-29
- Check out today's Penny Arcade on D&D Essentials and edition warring: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/8/23/ #
- RT @loganbonner: So Cryptic announces a Neverwinter game, but it's not an MMO: http://bit.ly/bxa3lo #
- RT @JaredvonHindman: Own the D&D the Movie? Want to listen to me make fun of it MST3k-style? Huzzah: http://bit.ly/bWp0gn #
- From the Archives:: Review: "Forgotten Heroes: Fang, Fist, and Song" http://bit.ly/9Xtisy #charchive #
- RT @gregbilsland: The Fine Art of Party Building: http://wp.me/pPNTx-5E #
- RT @emilycare: RPGirlZine 2010 pdf is now available! http://rpgirl-zine.blogspot.com/ #
- Interview with Gary Gygax from 2001 by @theweem Part 1: http://bit.ly/dBlXqY Part 2: http://bit.ly/cAvrEW #
- Dominion: Prosperity preview and Guide to Beating Attacks on @boardgamenews http://bit.ly/djy570 #
- RT @SarahDarkmagic: New post: Running Red Box for the Crew: Part One http://bit.ly/bsQ3Dy #dnd #
- RT @gamefiend: In case you missed: Serious Skills: http://bit.ly/9ECJiG Taking skills to some interesting places. #
- From the Archives:: Happy B' Day Mr. Washington http://bit.ly/aAlPJH #charchive #
- D&D organized play recap includes information on S2 of Encounters and Essentials characters for Red Box Game Day http://bit.ly/bKIzw8 #
- RT @NeoGrognard: Thinking outside of the box can be hard with RPGs, but one program did it. http://bit.ly/ar0jhR #
- RT @direflail: Roleplaying Therapy for the Severely Disturbed with Stupidranger.com, Gen Con 2010 edition: http://bit.ly/agJYQt #
- From the Archives:: So you wanna write a RPG Blog? Part 1: Why? http://bit.ly/cIXMV0 #charchive #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-08-22
- 4e DMing Tips Seminar with @chattydm, @ChrisSSims and @DaveTheGame audio recording posted: http://is.gd/ejdrX #
- Listen to @GFBRobot Episode #25 for an interview with our Editor-in-Chief @DaveTheGame about the history of CH http://gfbrobot.com/?p=6595 #
- RT @gamefiend: New blog post: Worldbreaker: Etherkai, the Nightmare Dragon http://bit.ly/dw4qE6 #
- RT @monkeyking: Terrific Q&A on the Lost City project. http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/investigating-the-lost-city-q-and-a #
- RT @GeekyClean: New! Gelatinous Cube soap! Includes a real #DnD miniature inside! http://ht.ly/2qKlO #
- RT @Bartoneus: Noticed an awesome classic D&D image in @mouseguard's latest commision posting: http://tinyurl.com/27syjt4 (one on the left) #
- Robert Schwalb (@rjschwalb) on being an RPG freelancer: http://www.robertjschwalb.com/2010/08/lighting-cigars-with-dollar-bills/ #
- RT @io9: Show some team spirit, D&D style http://io9.com/5615539/ #
- Gamma World unboxing video from @michaelrobles and @trevor_wotc http://bit.ly/9vGufV #
- Awesome spotlight interview with @slyflourish over at the WotC site http://wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4spot/20100819 #
- Rock Band 3 setlist leak http://rockbandaide.com/7488/huge-rock-band-3-setlist-leak/ via @RockBandAide #
- From the Archives:: A Corpse, a Belltower, and Yog-Sothoth: Favorite RPG Moments http://bit.ly/cVm14c #charchive #
- Check out today's (Friday) TeeFury shirt, "Twenty O'Clock" full of classic monsters http://www.teefury.com/ #dnd #
- Last day to enter the "Left Hand of God" contest, chance to win a free novel: http://is.gd/erVhm #
- From the Archives:: Chatty's blog 1/2 year in review. http://bit.ly/c3aodW #charchive #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-08-15
- RT @SarahDarkmagic: New post: Running Red Box at Gen Con http://bit.ly/9wr7AL #dnd #
- More details on D&D Encounters Season 3: Keep on the Borderlands http://bit.ly/dArMrF #
- RT @AsmadiGames: If you're curious what our new game Innovation is all about, here's my demo from #GenCon — http://youtu.be/tMRmqj_9d8Y #
- RT @NeoGrognard: What’s it like to win D&D? Come on over and I’ll tell you. http://bit.ly/aYpMqB #
- RT @ChrisSSims: What's your opinion on #dnd Hero Battle: Elminster? http://tinyurl.com/2cjz25x #
- Daily magic item use changing post-Essentials http://bit.ly/bf9eEt #
- RT @Wizards_DnD: Use your own created Dark Sun characters in #dndenc starting August 18th! Details here: http://bit.ly/d3kYNV #
- The life of a freelancer RT @rjschwalb: Please check out my new blog post here: http://www.robertjschwalb.com/2010/08/god-hates-a-coward/ #
- We get some shout-outs over at the WotC August News from our seminar coverage and unboxing videos http://bit.ly/9z9mD8 #
- FFG announces Blood Bowl deck-building card game: http://boardgamenews.com/announcements/get-ready-take-field (via @boardgamenews) #
- RT @Epidiah: Time & Temp + Annalise = The Time Immortal Bundle: http://wp.me/pEhQM-aF #
- RT @jachilli: Tonight's long overdue blog entry discusses the clans in Vampire. http://bit.ly/9CEJTS #
- RT @rjschwalb: Sack of chickens? http://www.robertjschwalb.com/2010/08/sack-o-chickens/ #
- RT @frequentbeef: Official Gen Con numbers are out: a record-breaking 30,046 http://is.gd/eeIgC #
- Our intrepid DD&D party (thanks James for making it at @Milambus for passing it on) http://yfrog.com/03330irj #
- RT @io9: First look inside the Gamma World box http://io9.com/5611673/ #
- "Left Hand of God" contest has 5 prizes, but only 1 entry so far. Just a single comment could get you a free novel: http://bit.ly/cT6zwr #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-08-08
- RT @NeoGrognard: Remembering the disorganized play of 80s conventions. http://bit.ly/9GxB3J #
- RT @wilw: bloggy blog blog about #GenCon stuffs, including my signing schedule and chapbook info: http://bit.ly/ds9sUC #
- 10am #dnd New Product Seminar is coming in 10 minutes. Live-tweeting to come, expect MANY updates from us. #
- Last warning- many tweets coming from the #dnd new product seminar. Mute us for 2 hours if you don't want to see them. #
- In the panel: Bill S., Jeremy C., Steve S., John S., and Mike M. #dnd #
- Overview of available now and coming soon. Then new for 2011. #
- Highlights of the year: Underdark, Martial Power 2, Player's Handbook 3, The Plane Above, Monster Manual 3, Player's Strategy Guide… #
- …Demonomicon, Tomb of Horrors, Dark Sun Campaign Setting, Dark Sun Creature Catalog, Marauders of the Dune Sea, Psionic Power, Cstl RavenL #
- Next season of Encounters: Keep on the Borderlands. #
- September: D&D Essentials, using the original Larry Elmore art for Red Box. Includes info about making characters, running starter games etc #
- Essentials line: Bill: "Set the record straight." games stores know what they should have in stock. 10 key products for stores. #
- "Making it a little easier to get into the game." Red Box is the on-ramp, w/ builds for existing characters. #
- "There is no 'conversion' – it's the same game." 6×9 lower price point format. #
- Rules Compendium- all core rules, across player, DM, and monster books. Quick reference. And they lay flat. #
- Master sets of dungeon tiles. 2" thick box, 10 tile sheets, includes 3D tiles. #
- Lords of Madness minis in September. Some on display at the show. #
- October: Dungeon Master's Kit. DM advice, starter adventures, tokens. Very heavy. #
- Gamma World in Oct. Light-hearted look at the apocalypse. Designed with 4e in mind. Char gen is very different and fast. #
- Roll two themes (half plant, half cockroach), random mutation cards, and technology deck with broken robots. #
- Box includes everything you need to play (except dice.) Rules tokens, etc. Very story-driven experience. Crazy mutations, like "you explode" #
- Mutation cards: will have booster packs to add more "wahoo experience." Not meant to be collected as a set. #
- Nov: Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms for Essentials. Monster Vault. 1/4 reprints, 3/4 new versions of classic monsters + tokens for all #
- 10 sheets of tokens, heavy boxed set. Works right along existing monsters. Owlbear on the cover. #
- Nov: City dungeon tiles. Also Beholder Collector's Set including new beholders from Mm3. 4 beholders in a "book-like" box. Limited quantiy #
- Wrath of Ashardalon board game, same engine as Castle Ravenloft, can work together. Dec: Wilderness dungeon tiles. #
- Gamma World: Famine in Far-Go. Adventure that includes even more mutations and hybrid. Includes Giant Chickens. #
- Red Box game day in September, Encounters ties into Essentials, then Gamma World game day in October. #
- Novels: Elminster Must Die, The Mark of Nerath (1st in d&d core world novels), then 5 part prelude novellas within other novels #
- IDW D&D comics, first one set in Fallcrest, then Dark Sun, 2011 will have Drizzt comics. #
- 2011 releases for novels. Abyssal Plague takes place in core world but echos across other worlds like FR and Dark Sun. #
- Gazetter: Nentir Vale. 6×9, with map, includes what's around it. #
- Fortune Cards: Cards in booster packs that include random benefits for characters. Adds extra "fun and power" for characters. #
- Fortune Cards similar to Gamma World mutations, w/out mutations. Not an extra level of powerups, an extra level of chance and randomness #
- Deluxe Dungeon Master's Screen, thicker than DM kit screen with Wayne Reynolds art. Very long. #
- Optional and not meant to be collected. Also 1st quarter: Heroes of Shadow #
- Shadow power source. More flavor and background in the game. New shadow powers for other classes. Feats to add shadow pacts to classes #
- Mordenkanien's Magnificent Emporium. More into he story behind magic item. Not history, but more description to bring items to life. #
- Starting with Essentials, magic items will be grouped into common, uncommon, and rares. Rare more powerful and cannot be created by ritual #
- Common items can be created and bought by characters, the others are given out only by DMs. More part of the campaign story. #
- Almost every magic item already given out will be classified uncommon, new items will be rares. #
- The Shadowfell: Gloomwrought and Beyond. Boxed set that includes poster maps. #
- Shadowfell includes a "despair deck." Cthulhu-esque insanities that the DM gives out that includes rp and rules. #
- Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. Box box of monsters. Includes tokens, encounters, poster maps. #
- Conquest of Nerath strategy war game board game. 2-4 players fighting across the map of ruined Nerath. Plastic minis, with heroes and armies #
- Player's Handbook: Champions of the Heroic Tier. Introduces themes for core D&D. New options, feats. Non-combat options like Blacksmith #
- A variety of options for DMs and players to decide to use, across all character classes. #
- Neverwinter Campaign Guide for Forgotten Realms. #
- 1-30 Bladesinger class, plot options, and more. #
- Hero Builder's Handbook. Aimed at players who want to tinker and build something detailed with your character. Not in development yet #
- Madness of Gardmore Abbey super-adventure. Includes card deck- the deck of many things. #
- 4th Quarter: Ravenloft Roleplaying Game. Play vampires, werewolves, as well as other standard classes. #
- New card component for Ravenloft, but won't reveal it until later. #
- Q&A: Working on new minis set for 2011, nothing to announce yet. Ravenloft will be integrated into D&D and be in the Shadowfell #
- DDI updates… Dungeon and Dragon magazines continuing, nothing else to announce yet but updates in the works. #
- Most books will still be hardcover going forward with a few exceptions #
- Assassin will not be in Heroes of Shadow, but there will be new versions of Assassin and Revenant in Heroes of Fallen Lands. #
- In the DM kit and rules compendium, there will be alternatives to treasure parcels, including random treasure finds. Item rarity too #
- Dragonlance continue to release novels, nothing else to announce but there is a plan. #
- Races will be retrofitted to have ability score choice in Essentials, like the PHB3 ones. #
- PDF and e-book question- still working on it, not ready to say yet but will have news soon. #
- .@NewbieDM asked about epic-tier support for a DMG. Not enough people playing epic yet, prob. 2012. #
- Alternatives to stun? Trying to limit its use in the design for stun (and daze to a lesser extent). Solo design takes this into account too #
- Rules Compendium isn't an alternative to the core books. Core books will be reprinted "when the time is right." #
- Dragonborn and Tiefling books were a format that were difficult for stores, looking at new ways to present race books. #
- Atari has an announcement coming about some kind of D&D video game but they can't talk about it here. #
- Fortune cards- not meant to be collected but they are randomized. Meant to be opened up at the table while playing. No deck-building. #
- Sounds like fortune cards are going to be given out at Encounters in some way. #
- Will we see anything for the Feywild? Yes, but it hasn't been shown yet. #
- From @Squach- is Ravenloft more like Gamma World or Dark Sun? "Yes." Can stand alone or be used with D&D. #
- One of @mikemearls's new job duties is reducing the amount of errata on new rules. #
- One of Mike's other goals is to make the new D&D books more appealing to read with more story instead of just rules in Compendium. #
- Seminar over. Appreciate the words of encouragement about the live tweeting as always. #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-08-01
- RT @GeekTyrant: Comic-Con 2010: Avengers Assemble! Avengers Cast Announced! http://bit.ly/99XAeW #
- Re-Launched: This Just In… From Gen Con! http://thisjustinfromgencon.com/ #
- Wardrobe of the Warrior article by @JaredVonHindman is up: http://wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4dnd/wardrobe #
- We're mostly taking off from posting this week. and next to prepare for GenCon. Any interest in seeing some classic posts from us? #
- RUMOR: 3 core 4e handbooks to be phased out in favor of Essentials http://bit.ly/9CuIIz #
- RT @Wizards_DnD: Looking for our @Gen_Con announcements? Look no further: http://bit.ly/8ZALgf #dnd #gencon #
- RT @NeoGrognard: The dream of epic levels and the D&D Open Championship, A Hole in the World http://bit.ly/bKrzTN #
- RT @HellcowKeith: I'm running a #DND game for charity at #GenCon – find the details at http://www.mythicparty.com/ #
- RT @Squach: What's this? Andy Collins has the gall to tell me how to role-play my character? How dare he! http://tinyurl.com/25h42d7 #
- Winners announced in the "Never Split the Party" contest for Gen Con 2010 http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4news/20100728 #
- RT @SlyFlourish: Do as I say, not as I do: Protect your Elite Villains: http://bit.ly/dnNsni #
- RT @LorienGreen: Get Lamp, A Documentary About Text Adventure Games – now available! http://bit.ly/aJ212K #
- Alumni: Save or Die! (be sure to click on the images for the full versions) http://bit.ly/9Uiy7o #
- Monster Manual 3 on a business card (monster math changes formatted) http://blogofholding.com/?p=512 #
- RT @RyanMacklin: New blog post: "Emotional Resonance" http://ryanmacklin.com/2010/07/emotional-resonance/ #
- RT @gamefiend: Initiative in RPGs, by way of the venerable game of Go: http://bit.ly/baA51M #
- RT @newbiedm: Posted this late last night: "Using the 3 act structure in D&D" http://wp.me/pkce6-zL #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-07-25
- Need a badge for GenCon? Not going to GenCon but looking for some prizes? Check out our contest: http://bit.ly/bLJjFR #
- RT @FFGames: “…centuries and even thousands of years seemed recorded in its dim and greenish surface…” – H.P. Lovecraft http://bit.ly/cCIY6L #
- Diana Jones Award Shortlist: Boardgamegeek (!), Chaos in the Old World, Kagematsu, Montsegur 1244 http://bit.ly/aZ3ejx (via @RobinDLaws) #
- RT @gregbilsland: So…Vor Rukoth: http://wp.me/pPNTx-4O #
- RT @NeoGrognard: Who uses the planes? Who should planar products target? http://bit.ly/bc6wHq #
- RT @ATerribleIdea: A Terrible Post: 60 Terrible Character Portraits – An Experiment http://bit.ly/aSzob9 #
- Great story: “I Was a Gen Con Spy for TSR” from @koboldquarterly http://bit.ly/b0KMj0 #
- RT @DNAphil: More suggestions for what to review @ GenCon needed: http://bit.ly/dqecEN #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-07-18
- New 4e project announced from @KoboldQuarterly , with lead design by @loganbonner http://is.gd/doto1 #
- RT @CharlesMRyan: The cat's now out of the bag: the Ryans are leaving England after four glorious years. Full scoop at http://www.charlesmryan.com #
- RT @gamefiend: New blog post: Threshold http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2010/07/threshold/ #
- RT @warrenellis: Harvey Pekar reported dead. Very sad. http://bit.ly/9sBpmS #
- RT @rdonoghue: Story is not a four letter word. http://bit.ly/aT1QtN #
- "The Abyssal Plague" #dnd novel line sounds like it ties into the Obyrinth story described in the Demonomicon: http://bit.ly/cnSzkd #
- RT @WyattSalazar: Review: Dungeon Mastering's Humble Beginnings: http://wp.me/po2FO-IO #
- RT @geeksdreamgirl: Oh, it appears DungeonMastering.com is for sale (again): http://bit.ly/ceFYdc #dnd #gossip #
- RT @geeksdreamgirl: Dice & Deadlines: Freelancing http://su.pr/4BZOuD #
- RT @SarahDarkmagic: New post: Like a Deer in the Headlights (or Spotlight) http://bit.ly/dyaKvx #dnd #
- RT @Neuroglyph: I'll bet I'm not alone in asking: "Are #dnd Essentials Truly Essential?" http://bit.ly/bhldI6 #
- RT @ENnies: Today, July 14, is the last day to nominate your favorite publisher for a Best Publisher ENnie! http://bit.ly/9LXpy6 #
- From @merricb RT @mudbunny74: Very nice review of the RPGA Tomb of Horrors DMs reward: http://bit.ly/d1cX2q #
- RT @BoingBoing: Warhammer 40K Potato Head http://bit.ly/bGkDY3 #
- Shamelessly soliciting praise/endorsements for CH. @ me or email editor@critical-hits.com if you have one you don't mind us using, thanks! #
- Ennie Award voting is live, please vote Critical Hits for Best Blog: http://www.ennie-awards.com/voting/ballot.asp Thank you! #
- RT @wordwill: New GM up at http://fuckyeahgamemasters.tumblr.com/ today. You may have even heard of him: Kevin Kulp. #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-07-11
- RT @mikemearls: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks made Wikipedia's front page! Big thanks to the D&D fans who contribute to Wikipedia. #dnd #
- New #dnd updates for July released: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/updates Big changes to some core powers #
- RT @mudbunny74: MB and Compendium update pushed back 'till July 20th. #wotc #ddi #
- Interview over at Gamasutra about D&D on the Microsoft Surface http://is.gd/djgwr #
- RT @SlyFlourish: "Sly Flourish's Dungeon Master Tips" is now officially published in PDF!.Get it tonight! http://bit.ly/dmtipsbook #dnd #
- RT @Milambus: Fake ???#DnD Movie Trailer! http://is.gd/djq0s Danny Devito as Dungeon Master, perhaps? #
- RT @ENnies: Announcing the 2010 ENnie Awards nominees! Congratulations to all! http://bit.ly/c9WKUb #
- Congrats esp. to Best Blogs: @gnomestew, @KoboldQuarterly, @newbiedm, @jesshartley, and us! (with HM to @SarahDarkmagic) #
- RT @SlyFlourish: Very useful new damage tables from Jhaelien on Enworld: http://bit.ly/axxmoF here's the table: http://bit.ly/cYxGCK #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-07-04
- Dixit wins Spiel Des Jahres (via @boardgamenews) http://bit.ly/aNpKlM #
- Check out @JaredvonHindman's Playing Evil Races D&D Outsider article about monstrous races http://bit.ly/aw9HTA #
- One Cool Thing I Saw at Origins 2010 http://youtu.be/A7yDNjdiXgo #
- Updated the Origins Awards post with links to some of the products nominated (mainly with our affiliate links) http://is.gd/d8dmQ #
- RT @thekiko: The Elemental Chaos is a pretty interesting place #dnd http://twitpic.com/20uugb http://twitpic.com/20uvl0 #
- Our old friend The Foodist donated to Mario Marathon – we hope you will too. Donate money to Child's Play, watch Mario http://is.gd/d8S4K #
- July's DDI content calendar is up: http://is.gd/d8Uhe Will Airship Battle on the 15th be anything like our Air War SC? http://is.gd/d8Ulk #
- GAMA announces a 5% increase in attendance, for a total of 10,669 attendees total this year. #
- RT @cwgabriel: First part of my series on how I made the Elemental Chaos encounter is up now. http://bit.ly/bEbeXd #
- RT @joystiq: Hulu Plus launching on PS3 'soon,' Xbox 360 in 'early 2011' http://bit.ly/dlMJX2 #
- RT @rjschwalb: New podcast @Wizards_DnD includes interview with yours truly: http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4pod/20100630 #
- RT @cwgabriel: Part 2 of my article about the Elemental Chaos encounter now up. see the actual mechanics of the fight. http://bit.ly/b81HsX #
- RT @DMSamuel: Want to hear a great #dnd conversation? New DM Roundtable podcast: http://www.dm-roundtable.com/?p=1 now with updated links!! #
- RT @rdonoghue: Second day of screenwriting inspired posts. Today I propose breaking the 4E campaign model – http://bit.ly/9rY5kV #
- RT @fredhicks: New on Deadly Fredly: One Quarter Worth of Dresden Files Sales http://bit.ly/b4x28R #
- RT @mudbunny74: Watch out for a phishing scam involving eamil from #WotC Details here: http://bit.ly/aBqSiM #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-06-13
- RT @SlyFlourish: Three Tips to Prepare for the Monster Manual 3 http://goo.gl/fb/GfgTa #
- Adamant to donate 100% of 2010 proceeds of special EPUB and MOBI versions of #ICONSrpg to Gulf oil spill relief: http://bit.ly/dgN6jn #
- That means they can include nudity now. RT @bleedingcool: Starz Grab Torchwood From BBC America – And Make It Themselves! http://is.gd/cGd8l #
- Early Dark Sun review from a playtester/reviewer: http://is.gd/cGhJ5 #
- RT @cwgabriel: Here is a link to my D&D adventure "Dusk". Let me know what you think. http://bit.ly/cFQ8Va #
- RT @Squach: Temporary Hit Points (www.temporaryhitpoints.com) my new site focused on the 4e #DnD player. #
- RT @Wizards_DnD: Here's a sneak peek at Epic Destinies: Heroes Reborn by @wotc_rodney: bit.ly/de4f4L #dnd #
- RT @gregbilsland: More on Monsters: http://wp.me/pPNTx-4s #
- RT @paul_kingworks: CNN.com has an article about D&D Encounters: http://bit.ly/a5ldVv #
- RT @Highmoon: RT @AllianceGames Wizkids to make #StarTrek games – http://bit.ly/92ho1y #
