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You are here: Home / Archives for 2011

Archives for 2011

Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-07-17

July 17, 2011 by Gato the News Robot

From the Archives:: Tales of the City Within, Session 2, Part 1 http://bit.ly/oOAv0J #charchive # "Deities!" — An Album About Love and Dungeons & Dragons, a Kickstarter to fund a new musical album about #dnd http://kck.st/pPTnTp # RT @3d6band: Speaking of albums about #dnd http://t.co/eS7mVBL # RT @geeksdreamgirl: New Article: Calling all Freelancers! Adventure to […]

Filed Under: Critical Bits Tagged With: twitter

Ennie Award Voting Opens: Shameless Begging Begins

July 15, 2011 by Dave

This is our third year of being nominated (2009 for Best Website, 2010 for Best Blog when it was a new category, and this year for Best Blog.) We’ve also been honored to have The Dungeon Master Guys podcast nominated for Best Podcast and would appreciate that to.

Filed Under: Editorial, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: ennie awards, ennie awards 2011, ennies, please go vote, shameless begging

Nonplayer Conundrum

July 14, 2011 by dixontrimline

Because the population of a typical game world runs more than four to six, there will be a vast and diverse representation of nonplayer characters in every game, and not just the ones that want to strangle the characters with their own intestines.

Filed Under: Editorial, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: characters, DM advice, NPCs

The Architect DM: Give It Some Height

July 13, 2011 by Bartoneus

I’m going to clue you guys in to a nifty little secret that I’ve been using for a while now in my RPG encounters – adding height to a tabletop RPG can be one of the best ways to invigorate your encounters. You must be careful, because using something like height in your game can become something of a gimmick or a trick and if overused could become predictable or boring to your players. However, when applied correctly and in the right amount height and depth can create some of the most memorable moments of your game and can also help enforce or dissuade certain styles of play.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, advice, architect dm, D&D, design, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, encounter, gimmicks, height, Location, Roleplaying Games, roleplaying games, Tips, worldbuilding

Communication Skills And Gaming: The Fundamental Truth About Fundamentals

July 12, 2011 by Vanir

Communication skills are very important to every facet of our lives that involves anyone but us. This means gaming too! Read on – and when you’re done, tell somebody what you’ve learned. Without using “um” or “uh”. Or WE’LL KNOW.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: communication, communication skills, cross-class, dm tips, drum circle, everyone is happy, fundamentals, harmony, player tips, QBQ, thanksgiving

2011 Ennies Nominations Announced

July 11, 2011 by Dave

On Friday, the nominations for the 2011 Ennie Awards were announced. For the third year in a row, Critical Hits has been nominated (in 2009 for best website and 2010 for best blog), and I’m honored to add both 2011 best blog to the list, as well as a nomination for best podcast for the Dungeon Master Guys.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Roleplaying Games

Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-07-10

July 10, 2011 by Gato the News Robot

From the Archives:: Movie Review: Cloverfield http://bit.ly/lAmhlv #charchive # “@ENnies: Announcing the 2011 #ENnie Nominations! http://t.co/Fz4PpVs” #

Filed Under: Critical Bits Tagged With: twitter

There’s No Crying in Design

July 8, 2011 by Shawn Merwin

Whether you’re talking RPG design or other creative works, anything presented to the public is going to garner reaction. Criticism can be devastating, but there are ways to deal with it.

Filed Under: Editorial, Know Your Roll, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: criticism, Feedback, game design, game writing

Review: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab RPG Series Scents

July 7, 2011 by Sucilaria

OK, quick word association game: when you think of the words “D&D” and “scent”, what immediately comes to mind? Probably not something pleasant. Luckily, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is trying to change that, or at least make that scent something more interesting than “Odeur de corporelle.”

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: black phoenix alchemy lab, perfumes, roleplaying games, rpg-related products, scents

Critical Hits Podcast #30: Chris Sims and Mike Shea on Encounter Design

July 7, 2011 by Mike Shea

Mike Shea talks to Chris Sims about designing effective encounters in D&D 4e.

Filed Under: Critical Hits Podcast, Podcasts, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, DM advice, encounter design

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