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You are here: Home / Archives for 2011

Archives for 2011

The Architect DM: Nations as Character Backgrounds

July 27, 2011 by Bartoneus

I am still in the process of brainstorming on the following topics, but this post is an essential part of the process as I express my thoughts so far and more importantly get feedback from others and hear about their experiences. After running an adventure of D&D last week that included our friend Dixon Trimline, he and I were having a post-adventure geek out because we don’t get the chance to talk in person that often. During this geek out we discussed the history of my D&D campaign, specifically the world that has been built before and during the game, when I caught inspiration for an idea of presenting nations and world building as character background “packages” that can be taken by players.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: advice, architect dm, D&D, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, nations, roleplaying games, Tips, Tricks, world building, worldbuilding

I Haven’t Washed My DM Pants In Six Months And They Smell Like Umber Hulk

July 26, 2011 by Vanir

When I got home from DDXP last January, the desire to have a gaming group again had been fanned from a wee spark into a roaring flame. I immediately set about the task of inviting people and getting things set up, and before we knew it, we were playing our first game together. Now, just a shade under 6 months in, I’m taking a step back to see how things are.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: cowabunga, don't move away plz, Feedback, five monthaversary, gaming group, omg feelings, pizza, player satisfaction

Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-07-24

July 24, 2011 by Gato the News Robot

From the Archives:: Give Feedback to your GM… and live! Part 1. http://bit.ly/r0NX0E #charchive # Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium to only be released to hobby and game stores and not to big box outlets http://bit.ly/rqCG3X # RT @AdamantEnt: Buckaroo Banzai Adventure Game: Coming in Spring 2012 from Adamant. Announcement: http://bit.ly/qjGZzH # Blood Bowl: Team Manager card […]

Filed Under: Critical Bits Tagged With: twitter

Chatty DM, Freelancer, Part 3: RPG Blogging, The Revelation

July 24, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty relates some anecdotes about his first year as a blogger, his first lessons and, more importantly, his coming to terms with what he always has been since middle school…

Filed Under: blogging, Featured, Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM Tagged With: Bipolar Disorder, Blogger, blogging, Freelance Writing, Writing

Scotty’s Brewpub: Gaming, Grog, Grub, and Good Times for Gen Con

July 22, 2011 by guest

There’s a lot going on at Scotty’s during Gen Con. The short, take away is JUST GO, you’ll have fun. That’s enough if this looks like it’s going to be a TL;DR for you.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D, gen con, pathfinder, restaurants, wizards of the coast

Killing Characters

July 21, 2011 by dixontrimline

And so the Dungeon Master, the creator of all things, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, oh yes, this Dungeon Master will make you fear death.

Filed Under: Editorial, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, death and dying, DM advice

The Architect DM: On Sandbox Campaigns

July 20, 2011 by Bartoneus

The Architect DM series has covered a lot of different aspects or tabletop RPGs ranging from details of a single encounter to the much larger task of planning out an entire game world. I’ve found myself tending to progress through that range from post to post instead of staying to one end or another for more than one or two posts in a row. With this in mind, today’s post comes from some of my more recent thoughts on Campaign planning and how to build towards running a mostly sandbox style game.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: advice, architect dm, campaign, D&D, design, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, planning, railroad, roleplaying games, sandbox

Save Yourself: Vote For Critical Hits

July 19, 2011 by Vanir

As many of you are aware, Critical Hits is up for an Ennie this year. Dave has already given you all several good reasons to vote for us, but I’m here today to seal the deal. I put myself at great personal risk to reveal this information, but a win this year would shed a lot of light on the truth all gamers need to know. The consequences for not reading could be quite random – and deadly!

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D, d10, d12, d20, d30 who uses that, d4, d6, d8, ennies, gen con, gencon, venomous, VENOMOUS D12 OMG, vote

Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 11

July 18, 2011 by Dungeon Master Guys

In this episode of the ENNIE-NOMINATED DM Guys podcast, Newbie and Dave are joined by Sarah Darkmagic as co-host, Dave talks to Brennan Taylor and Ryan Macklin about running convention games, NewbieDM talks to Daniel Perez about running online games, and we answer listener questions.

Filed Under: Dungeon Master Guys Podcast, Newest Critical Hits, Podcasts, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DM advice

Does Size Really Matter?

July 18, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty muses about the importance of size in RPG groups and the fact that he holds on to ridiculous expectations and beliefs in SPITE of contrary data. Could it be that Chatty is not a logical positronic brain but an actual slightly damaged human being?

Filed Under: Featured, Musings of the Chatty DM, Player Psychology, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Banewarrens, D&D, group size, monte cook, pathfinder

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About the Author

  • Bartoneus

    Danny works professionally as an architectural designer and serves as managing editor here at CH, which means he shares many of the duties of being an editor but without the fame and recognition. He also writes about RPGs, videogames, movies, and TV. He is married to Sucilaria, and has a personal blog at Incorrect Blitz Input. (Email Danny or follow him on Twitter).

    Email: bartoneus@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//author/Bartoneus/

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