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You are here: Home / Archives for Dave

Project Paradigm: Some Thoughts on a Mage-Inspired Fate Game

February 5, 2014 by Dave

I’ve written before about my love of Mage: the Ascension. I even went and hacked another game system to play it in a way I really enjoyed, and have run it that way multiple times now. I’m not the only one who wanted to bring Mage back with a modern system. Ryan Macklin also wrote up the hack he was playing with. Now we’re joining forces on it.

Filed Under: Critical Threats, Featured, Game Hacks & Content, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: fate, fate core, mage: the ascension, project paradigm

D&D Next to Release in Summer 2014

December 19, 2013 by Dave

Wizards of the Coast today announced that the highly-anticipated new rules system for Dungeons & Dragons will release in summer 2014.

Filed Under: News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D, D&D next

“The 5×5 Method” Dragon Magazine Article

December 4, 2013 by Dave

I have an article in the 2nd to last (for now) issue of Dragon, and it’s a redone version of my most popular article on Critical Hits. It was also my first paid piece in my RPG designer career.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 5x5 method, campaign prep, D&D, D&DI, dragon, The 5x5 Method

Review: “Lords of Waterdeep” for iPad & iPhone

November 21, 2013 by Dave

Lords of Waterdeep for iOS brings together two things I already like, so you can probably predict the result. So to say I was excited about these two coming together, announced months ago, would be an understatement. And thankfully, the end result is as good as I’d hoped.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Featured, News, Reviews, Video Games Tagged With: iOS, iPad, iphone, lords of waterdeep, Playdek

Metatopia 2013 Schedule

October 28, 2013 by Dave

Metatopia is a unique convention, added to the roster of Double Exposure conventions. Metatopia covers games of all kinds, from board/card/party games to roleplaying games to live action games. As someone who has interests in all those areas, I’ve been happy to be at Metatopia every time they’ve put the convention on, including this year.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Critical Threats, Newest Critical Hits, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: conventions, game design, metatopia, metatopia 2013

The State of D&D, Post-Gen Con 2013

October 2, 2013 by Dave

I feel like this post should start with a Star Wars crawl: “It was a time of great change in Dungeons & Dragons…”

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Editorial, Featured, Newest Critical Hits, News, Roleplaying Games, Video Games Tagged With: 4e, D&D, D&D next, dnd, dndnext, gen con, gen con 2013

MODOK’s 11: A Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Event

September 13, 2013 by Dave

This is an event for Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, based on the comic mini-series Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK’s 11 by Fred van Lente and Frances Portela. MODOK recruits a gang of D-list villains to steal a powerful prize from a formidable adversary, while the superheroes of the world have their attention drawn elsewhere. It is designed for […]

Filed Under: Featured, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: marvel heroic roleplaying, Marvel RPG, modok

2013 Gen Con Preview: What to Watch For

August 13, 2013 by Dave

Once again, Gen Con is upon us. You can check out my schedule if you’re so inclined. More importantly, there are games to check out and buy. This is not a comprehensive list: if you want a bigger look at what board games are available there, I recommend checking out the Board Game News list. […]

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Newest Critical Hits, Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 13th Age, 13thAge, Augustus, D&D, D&D next, Dungeon Roll, firefly, Firefly RPG, get bit!, Hillfolk, Sentinels of the Multiverse, star trek, star trek: attack wing, star wars, star wars: age of rebellion

Interview: Amanda Valentine, Developer of “Little Wizards” RPG

August 12, 2013 by Dave

I’ve worked with Amanda Valentine on multiple projects before (including Marvel Heroic Roleplaying), where she served as a lead editor, helping to make the books as best they could be on every level. Amanda has a lot of experience working at every level of game design across multiple game lines, and so I was very […]

Filed Under: Featured, Interviews, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Gaming with Kids, little wizards

“Neverwinter Campaign Setting” Icons for “13th Age”

August 8, 2013 by Dave

I’ve played (and run) a few more sessions of 13th Age since I wrote my first preview, as the rules became more solid and filled out from those first playtests. I was initially more guarded, but since then, my opinion of 13th Age has only gone up. The actual books are making their way into […]

Filed Under: Critical Threats, Featured, Game Hacks & Content, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 13th Age, 13thAge, 4e, D&D, forgotten realms, Neverwinter

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About the Author

  • Dave

    Dave "The Game" Chalker is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Critical Hits. Since 2005, he has been bringing readers game news and advice, as well as editing nearly everything published here. He is the designer of the Origins Award-winning Get Bit!, a freelance designer and developer, son of a science fiction author, and a Master of Arts. He lives in MD with e and at least three dogs.

    Email: dave@critical-hits.com

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