Voting opens today, and we’d really like you to vote for us as Best Blog. We were nominated last year too and lost to fine competition, and this year’s competition is easily as fierce. Thus, we’re presenting this post that highlights some of our content over this past year (and a few endorsements) that we believe qualifies us to be voted Best Blog.
RPG Advice and Tips
- Chris Sims joined this year, and brought with him a wealth of knowledge about the inner workings of D&D. His mailbag series answers burning questions from you, the reader, and featured a five part series on solos (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), advice on pitching to Dragon magazine, and how to play your character boldly at the table.
- Super-popular blog Musings of the Chatty DM joined with Critical Hits this year as well. The Chatty DM tackled issues like keeping up with your PCs when they start to click as a group. He also talked about the new campaign setting he created for his game, making a magic item with a special twist, and continued the story of Nico’s Quest (introducing his children to RPGs.) Finally, he documented his first session1 with Mouse Guard (part 1, 2, 3, 4).
- We kept our Skill Challenge guide and 4e Accessories guide up to date with added content, organization, and images.
- The 5×5 Method campaign-planning technique was complimented by several follow-up posts including Using the 5×5 Method for Adventure Design, Making Your 5×5 Campaign Plan into a Grid, and a podcasted seminar that walks you through the process of creating a 5×5.
- Other various popular posts include: The Almighty Player, The Plot Kill, Air War: A Skill Challenge, Bad Alignment, Railroading in a Good Way, I Hate Magic Items, 3 Rolls, 1 Check, Ashes to Ashes, Death to Life, and Beginner’s Guide to Homebrewing.
Breaking D&D News
- At GenCon 2009, we were the first to post some details about the Assassin class, as well as covered the event that announced Dark Sun and all the other products for the upcoming year.
- Our D&D XP coverage included full scans of all the Dark Sun character sheets from the event, which gave the first peek at the mechanics going to be used in the upcoming campaign setting. We also were one of the first to talk about what Essentials is and about the Encounters program.
- We interviewed Mike Mearls about the Assassin class, Greg Bisland about the Monster Manual 3 and adjusted monster damage, Steve Townshend about the Demonomicon, Chris Perkins about his DMing style (in video form), and more.
- We brought to your attention to a controversial decision by GenCon, and presented both sides of the issue.
- We were one of the first to post the Origins awards winners, and posted a recap of cool stuff at the show itself.
Gamer Lifestyle
- Chatty DM shares with the world details on his gamer lifestyle, including his recent decision to dissolve his gaming group and his origins as a gamer (his gamer DNA, parts 1, 2, 3). He also gives advice to gamers with spouses, and encourages gamers to, put simply, “don’t be a dick.”
- Vanir’s Dire Flailings column is filled with his brain drippings on whatever he might be thinking about at the time, from his struggles to get rid of gaming artifacts of the past, to being a Star Wars uncle, to the power of rock.
- Plus we looked at the most important games of the decade, how the iPad changes D&D, and Why “District 9” is better than “Avatar.”
Praise for Critical Hits
I read this gaming blog called critical-hits. It’s awesome, and if you like RPGs, you should read it too.
—Wil Wheaton (Yes, that Wil Wheaton)
Critical Hits is a cool D&D site. Although it focuses a lot on 4E, you can extrapolate a lot to any edition.
–Monte Cook, Game Designer, Author, and Manager of Dungeon A Day
[The 5×5 Method] is one of the neatest GMing tools I’ve seen recently — it needs to be turned into a PDF and shared as widely as possible.
–Martin Rayla of Gnome Stew
For insights and advice on roleplaying with Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition, I always turn to the ENnie Awards-nominated web site Critical Hits. They know what makes it fun to play. But they also know the game and where to find stuff to make it even better.
–David of Purple Pawn
Critical Hits has been pretty much my go-to website for any RPG-related news which has a crew of writers that have good connections with the industry. These are the guys that I look up to in regards to gaming journalism and they have also produced some indepth analysis especially in the 4E mechanics.
Those guys are some of the most prolific and nicest bloggers on the RPG Blogosphere… who are you to not believe Wil Wheaton? […] Seriously, if you don’t go vote for Critical Hits today I will pump Vanir full of sugar and send him to your next game session. None of your livestock will be safe.
–Dante of Stupid Ranger
Critical Hits is Double Rainbow….all the way.
–Denham Hardman
Critical Hits rocks like Winger!!
–David Christ, Owner of Baldman Games
Before discovering critical hits I was an alcoholic hit man for the cultists of Great Cthulhu. Now, I’m still an alcoholic hit man for the cultists of Great Cthulhu, but critical hits fills me with hope in the works of man, and may be the tipping point in my decision to foil their plans for the great awakening.
There you have it. That’s what we’ve provided and more over the past year. So please, go vote for us now (and all the other fine products you like.) We’re category #18, and we would appreciate a “1” next to Critical Hits for Best Blog. Thanks to all our wonderful readers.
Done!
-Tourq
Thanks! Much appreciated!
Critical Hits is the best blog of the batch! Voted!
Thanks Mike!
You guys get my vote! Good luck!