Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-02-06
- RT @DreadGazeebo: Wherein I give you the lowdown on @Wizards_DnD's new Despair Deck http://bit.ly/igfzxe #
- From the Archives:: Exploring Evil in RPGs http://bit.ly/hP0AI0 #charchive #
- RT @loganbonner: The worst RPG characters (via @frequentbeef): http://bit.ly/fABiX3 #
- RT @rjschwalb: I chat about skill challenges here: http://bit.ly/fQIE6I I'm sure there's something here folks will hate
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DDXP 2011 Recap
I’ve returned home from sunny Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and I’m intensely glad I did so yesterday because the incoming SNOWCTOPUS VS. DEBBIE FROST-GIBSON would have made travel very perilous indeed if I left a day later. Let me get all my Winter-hatin’ out of the way here in these first couple sentences and I will do nothing but shoot pure awesome for the rest of this recap. Current cause of winter-hate: our fearless leader Dave the Game and E. from Geek’s Dream Girl, who were to be my allies on this adventure (also: roommates) got snowed in completely and couldn’t make it to the convention. Aside from the obvious sadness that I wouldn’t be able to see my friends, this event featured several deluxe repercussions. First, all the Gamma World “In A Fallacy Far, Far Away” games were cancelled. I was denied the chance to play a droid programmed to insult people. I am saddened. Second, and more importantly, Dave was going to cover lots of important events while at DDXP. As Dave is not currently capable of projecting his Astral self, his absence predicated the need for someone else to do it.
Upon hearing the news about his snowed-in comrades, Matt activates his powers of literal metaphor.
Suddenly, I found myself in the same position every unlikely hero in this modern age finds themselves in at some point: uttering various swear words into a cellular phone.
Fortunately, backup plans were soon concocted and communicated to me, and soon I faced my first real challenge as the interim Hand of Critical Hits: liveblogging the New Products Seminar. Holy crap. People talk very quickly.
A lot of neat things got announced, like the new boardgames (Wrath of Ashardalon, Legend of Drizzt, and Conquest of Nerath) and the expansion covering the Shadowfell. The Madness at Gardmore Abbey Boxed Set is the sleeper hit of the lineup as far as most of the people I’ve talked to are concerned, what with the Deck of Many Things it comes with.
Cards for their RPGs seem to be a big thing for WotC this year. Also coming out are Fortune Cards for players to spice up their combat. I got to play with them a little bit during a couple of games, and I’m not sure how I feel about them yet. They’re fun for sure, but they feel a little overpowered somehow.
On a more depressing note (for your PC anyway), I got to take a look at a Despair deck from the upcoming Shadowfell set. The setting messes with your characters emotions and wears them down, which is represented in-game with these cards, which will say a condition like “apathy” or “madness” and the in-game effect it has on your PC. It also encourages roleplaying these conditions by having a boon the player gets if their PC can overcome the effects. It makes my roleplaying antennae all tingly. [Read the rest of this article]
Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-01-30
- From the Archives:: Kobold Love: Interlude 1, The Posse is building http://bit.ly/ggVxwx #charchive #
- If you haven't already, please vote in the poll in this post: http://bit.ly/gETCnQ about our DDXP seminar coverage and posting on Twitter. #
- Follow our live coverage of the DDXP New Products Seminar here starting at 1PM EST: http://bit.ly/gd5Wy8 #
- Follow our live coverage of the new D&D Product Seminar at http://bit.ly/gGoVPm #
DDXP 2011: New Product Seminar
(Editor’s Note: While the weather had other ideas for me arriving at DDXP, our very own Vanir was front and center and taking notes from the New Product Seminar. Here’s a slightly edited version of his liveblog from the show, and I added some of the bigger highlights/lowlights at the end.)
1:00pm - Chris Perkins starts the festivities, introduces Mike Mearls, and starts the show!
1:02 – WotC wants to find ways to tie their print products into their organized play programs.
“March of the Phantom Brigade” Encounters season comes out in February, ties into the D&D Essentials products.
D&D Fortune Cards tie into organized play as well.
Heroes of Shadow sourcebook allows players more options for character building.
“Lost Crown of Neverwinter” is next season’s D&D Encounters setting. Fortune cards will be tied to this.
“Beyond the Crystal Cave” is an adventure in this story arc, based on old adventure from the UK. It’s special because the players didn’t have to kill everything to win. Adventure is based in the Feywild.
1:05 – Mike Mearls expresses their desire to make D&D encounter season adventures all share a common theme. Chris Perkins asks for thoughts from audience on D&D Encounters products.
Coming up this year:
- Player’s Option: Heroes of Shadow – April
- The Shadowfell: Gloomwrought and Beyond – May
- Monster Vault – Threats to the Nentir Vale – June
- Neverwinter Campaign Setting – August
- Madness at Gardmore Abbey Boxed Set – September
- Player’s Option: Heroes of he Feywild – November [Read the rest of this article]
Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-01-23
- From the Archives:: Our Ladies of Sorrow: Modern Gaming, Scary Women http://bit.ly/dWIrsw #charchive #
- RT @fredhicks: New on Deadly Fredly: Taste of Fiasco on March 19th http://www.deadlyfredly.com/2011/01/taste-of-fiasco-on-march-19th/ #
- Now Rolling: The Dungeon Reality Show http://is.gd/b83lIn #
- RT @fredhicks: Behold! A few weeks early, it's Neutral Grounds, our first one-shot adventure for the #DFRPG http://bit.ly/i6WItL #
- RT @davidnett: New on the GOLD Blog (by yours truly): Four Tips for Dungeon Masters and Indie Filmmakers http://bit.ly/dZAcS3 #
- RT @HellcowKeith: For those who missed it the first time, my first Have Dice Will Travel article is up at The Escapist: http://bit.ly/eIYRJq #
- RT @LorienGreen: New Dominion: Cornucopia due out this spring: http://bit.ly/hHdHTx #
- D&D Play Spotlight has details on the next season of Encounters, w/ rule changes for magic items, leveling, and cards http://bit.ly/gIf9a6 #
- RT @monkeyking: RT @adamjury: WizKids gets Lord of the Rings license for HeroClix: http://wizkidsgames.com/LotR/ #
- Now Rolling: "Hey Gamma World, Get On My Properties!" by @dixontrimline http://bit.ly/icZjj6 #
- Join @davethegame, @chattydm, & @gamefiend at PAX East 2011 for a panel on House Rules & Stealing From Other RPGs http://bit.ly/hBxeNq #
- Info on today's DDI (character builder and compendium) update: http://bit.ly/fmBPpx List of bug fixes: http://bit.ly/gXvHqp #
- RT @KoboldQuarterly: Quality RPG magazine needs your support: Subscribe to Kobold Quarterly today! http://cot.ag/2x0xQ9 #
- RT @WindsorGaming: Dungeons and Dragons Fortune Cards. Actual Play review http://bit.ly/eF2tT1 #dnd #dndenc #
- RT @ATerribleIdea: Tales from the Table – A Call For Submissions : http://bit.ly/fsZ9F3 #
- RT @JediSoth: DarkSun Gamers! Check out this map set by renowned cartographer Christopher West! Help it become reality: http://kck.st/etxbXq #
- RT @WolfStar76: ZOMG! #DDi Virtual Tabletop Beta and other Adventure Tools will have (Beta) connectivity soon! http://bit.ly/hLiWAy #
D&D XP 2011 Is Coming: Convention Coverage
We’ll be back at the D&D XP convention this year, from January 27th to the 30th. There’s still time to attend- badges as well as tickets to the many events will be available at the door. Shawn Merwin told you why he enjoys the convention so much, and I’m going to be there running special Gamma World adventures, so there’s plenty of reasons you might want to attend right there.
However, the other reason you might be interested in the convention is for all the news and previews, whether you’re going to attend or not. In 2008, we were there to bring you the first major seminar that revealed many of the first details about 4e as well as interviews and other coverage that filled in more details. Last year, we brought you early word of D&D Essentials, the D&D Encounters program, glimpsed some Dark Sun characters, and were given an early taste of Gamma World.
This year we’re hoping to get a more clear vision of where D&D is going forward, especially in light of recent announcements and, of course, the resultant rampant speculation. Some books announced at Gen Con are now off the schedule, including at least one that filled some gaps in the post-Essentials rules era. Dragon and Dungeon magazines have been shifting around dramatically. We have a Virtual Tabletop coming. There are collectible cards being presented as an optional add-on to D&D to decidedly mixed reaction (including from yours truly.) And then there’s Ravenloft and hints that it will contain some kind of interesting additional component. Hopefully after this year’s seminar, we’ll all have a better idea of where things are headed for the year to come, and that path is filled with cool stuff for D&D players. [Read the rest of this article]
Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-01-16
- RT @KoboldQuarterly: NEWS: Open Design Launches Midgard Worldbuilding Project http://pitch.pe/114227 #
- From the Archives:: New York, New York, It's a Hell of a Town http://bit.ly/g8DKHw #charchive #
- New Year, New Game Sale @DriveThruRPG: 20 Games for $11 Each http://bit.ly/efFSnb #
- RT @baldmangames: It took a while, but the #DDXP Seminar schedule is available! Go take a look – http://bit.ly/fBh2aZ #
- RT @newbiedm: Probability calculator for figuring out dice rolls and other complicated math stuff I hate. http://anydice.com/ #
- RT @eddyfate: On eddyfate.com: What I Learned from Vampire: The … http://bit.ly/f6AYft #
- January And Beyond: Legion of Gold origins & vocation rules for GW, more on Fortune Cards, and Heroes of Shadow http://bit.ly/eukxP5 #
- RT @Wizards_DnD: So for those looking for more info about the #dnd books missing from the schedule, 1st news will come in the next Ampersand #
- Happy birthday to our featured blogger @chattydm ! #
- RT @KatoKatonian: Oh hey, I created my own Character Sheet for Gamma World. http://bit.ly/hPKSG2 #
- RT @SarahDarkmagic: If you missed it, @StvWinter posted some great information about the new DDI magazine procedures. http://bit.ly/ek5jZs #
- Game designer Steve S. Long of Hero Games talks about licensed RPGs over at IPR: http://bit.ly/g17NsF #
- 3 D&D books confirmed as removed from 2011 schedule, D&D Minis line canceled, announced in this month's Ampersand http://is.gd/WPVGSS #
- RT @Wizards_DnD: Also, some more information and discussion on the Dragon and Dungeon compilations: http://bit.ly/fGDKsh #dnd #ddi #
- Heroes of Shadow, Monster Vault: TTTNV, The Shadowfell: GAB, and probably Ravenloft are the only core D&D products known for 2011 #
- Fate of Neverwinter Campaign Guide & Madness of Gardmore Abbey currently unknown, as well as several rumored products. #
- .@newbiedm Some of the designers have talked about playtesting Ravenloft, so that's why it's still "probably" around. #
- RT @mudbunny74: Check out the following #WotC Knowledge base for info on the #WotC lineup changes. http://bit.ly/gO3l4P #
- Channel Divinity: Vecna (DDI sub required) http://is.gd/ymYO5f #
- RT @rdonoghue: Down periscope today, but I wanted to point to today's blog entry as one of my weirder 4e ideas. http://bit.ly/gc3V6Y #
- Pesky graphics slowing you down? The Gamma World Junkulator has evolved to toggle random images on/off. http://bit.ly/junkulator #
- RT @gamefiend: The Speed of Choice: the Real Reason your 4e Fights are so Damn Slow.: 4e combat takes time. http://bit.ly/hUGE4j #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-01-09
- From the Archives:: A Solid "1" http://bit.ly/gxvhaD #charchive #
- RT @AdamantEnt: An experiment or a leap of faith: Adamant's new "app-pricing" business model: http://bit.ly/gBRLS7 #
- RT @rjschwalb: Grab your force dragon right here: http://www.robertjschwalb.com/2011/01/lost-monsters-force-dragons/ #
- Review: From Here To There, 9 Adventures For The Road by @gnomestew http://bit.ly/eoWneu #
- RT @geeksdreamgirl: New Article: One Box Wonder: Gamma World http://j.mp/fVJRWK #
- RT @baldmangames: Just posted a new #DDXP Special Guest. Today's guest? Christopher Perkins! http://bit.ly/greYOQ #
- Details on the Goodman Games "Dungeon Crawl Classics" RPG announced: releases Nov 2011 http://goodmangames.com/5070preview.html #
- WizKids announces "Star Trek Expeditions", a co-operative standalone HeroClix game designed by Reiner Knizia http://bit.ly/eTyrMw #
- ToC for this month's Dragon: http://bit.ly/fCatlG and Dungeon: http://bit.ly/eoBDjj w/ work from @rjschwalb, @chrisssims, and @loganbonner #
- RT @ArtOrder: D&D Web Comic Call For Artists http://tinyurl.com/2bx4r4f #ArtOrder #
- New Gamma World guide updates: Character Creation Guide by @DharmaTel http://bit.ly/icWbXl and new origins by whydirt http://bit.ly/hzQpZ1 #
- RT @KoboldQuarterly: The #DnD adventure Lost City by @loganbonner now available for pre-order. http://cot.ag/aFs06V #
- RT @KoboldQuarterly: Using Skill Challenges as a gateway to battles–with a twist! http://cot.ag/ex1UIE #
- RT @CharlesMRyan: Pure gaming history awesomeness: @mattcolville posts notes from his work on the Dune RPG: http://bit.ly/gmGlDQ #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-01-02
- From the Archives:: 4th Edition Round Table: Classes and Other Topics http://bit.ly/frXP1w #charchive #
- RT @fredhicks: Dresden Files, Freemarket, Gamma World, Apocalypse World, more on MTV Geek's Top 10 RPGs of 2010: http://tinyurl.com/26drgrs #
- Nearly $800 raised to help the Child's Play charity. Can you help us, @obsidianportal, & @gfbrobot hit $2000 by Friday? http://bit.ly/i52elV #
- RT @LFR_News: Where to download LFR adventures: http://www.livingforgottenrealms.com Announcement: http://bit.ly/hKULD6 #LFR #DnD #
- Rumor: "Class Compendium: Heroes of Sword & Spell" and other books removed or delayed from 2011 release schedule? http://bit.ly/ep2Z9S #
- RT @nerdvana: The Legal Watchdog: Dungeons, dragons, and prison bureaucrats http://shar.es/XKgWo #
- RT @Morrus: Coming soon from the folks who brought you WotBS….. ZEITGEIST! http://www.enworld.org/index.php?page=zeitgeist For 4E #dnd #
- Now Rolling: I'll See Your Junkulator… http://bit.ly/ebJofY #
- Help sick children around the world and get a free @obsidianportal subscription. What better way to close out 2010? http://bit.ly/fvsAIg #
Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-12-26
- From the Archives:: Why You Should Be Excited for Starcraft 2 http://bit.ly/enKgAa #charchive #
- Now Rolling: Gamma-Tastic by @dixontrimline, a brief recap of A Taste of Gamma World at @labyrinthdc http://bit.ly/i55KAR #
- Donate to the Red Cross, be entered into a chance to win a free custom illustration by famed fantasy artist Ben Wootten http://bit.ly/dRfRg4 #
- RT @ThadeousC: Happy holidays from This is My Game @TheAngryDM & @dreadgazeebo Gamma World Novice Power cards! http://bit.ly/gwKG3N #
- RT @BoardgameNews: Boardgame News moving to BoardGameGeek in January 2011; details – http://bit.ly/eyrgZm #
- RT @gamefiend: Gamma World mini-CB/character sheet: http://bit.ly/g1OqEW pretty sweet! #
- Now Rolling: The Raiders of Shady Grove, A Taste of Gamma World recap http://bit.ly/eYPnSZ #
- RT @mudbunny74: Known issues list for todays #DDI web-CB update can be found here: http://bit.ly/9hL1E6 #
- Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale coming to XBLA, PSN, and PC next year http://aol.it/eBIjJt #
