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You are here: Home / Archives for Newest Critical Hits / Columns

The Experience

August 16, 2011 by Vanir

In most of the games I play in, we just sort of level up as the campaign progresses. I can buy that. My years of martial arts training tell me that a boot to the head is a very powerful lesson. Combat is a great teacher, assuming one survives. However, the theory always sort of fell apart for me when it came to wizards. Certainly, the wizard would gain a lot of knowledge about what worked and what didn’t after a few battles, but that doesn’t explain why a few weeks into his travels he suddenly knows how to cast a Fireball. Wizards always got screwed anyway.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: combat, equal rights for mages, experience, fighters suck, learning, screwed, sword-chucks, unfair, wizard

Chatty Shorts (and not Chatty’s Shorts, you pervs): Gen Con 2011

August 15, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty takes a few minutes to post updates about Gen Con 2012 and how he used to be cool before he became an insufferable celebrity.

Filed Under: Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: ennies, Ennies 2012, Gen Con 2012, Margaret Weis Productions, Marvel RPG, MWP

It Only Works On The Weak-Minded (Or The Unprepared)

August 9, 2011 by Vanir

Once upon a time, I was at karate class just minding my own business, when a 10-year-old girl wearing a blue belt walks up to me with a question. I’d been a black belt for some time, so this was not an unusual occurrence. I was expecting for her to ask for help with her kata or how to do roundhouse kicks or something like that. Instead, she asks me simply, “Sensei, what’s a Jedi mind trick?”

Filed Under: Dire Flailings Tagged With: discipline, don't make fun of nerds they'll destroy you, jedi, jedi mind trick, karate, prepare, sensei

Chatty’s Gen Con 2011 Schedule and the Carpe Phil game

August 2, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty presents his 2011 Gen Con Schedule and shares the rules of his “Catch Phil” game.

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM Tagged With: gen con 2011, schedule

Tae Con Do – The Ancient Art of Convention Self-Defense

August 2, 2011 by Vanir

As most of you are no doubt aware, Gen Con begins in a matter of days. I can’t go this year, but it is one of my very favorite times of the year. (I’m not sure if I like it or Christmas more, but Gen Con has a slight edge in that it doesn’t play music that annoys the crap out of me for three months beforehand.) It is the most concentrated unbridled gaming fun I get to have in any given solar year, and I like to strap on my ceremonial fanny pack and let my hair all the way down for four days. That being said, bad things can and do happen to convention-goers. There are people out there who attend conventions and other public events to prey on the unwitting. It behooves all of us to be aware of our surroundings and to make informed, safe choices to protect ourselves.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings Tagged With: awareness, convention, dont sleep in the convention center alone omfg aneurism, gen con, grope, jiujitsu, judo, karate, rape, rape prevention, rex kwan do, self-defense, taekwondo

Chatty DM, Freelancer, Part 4: The Pit and The Plan

August 1, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty chronicles the effect of his last depression (and recovery) on his writing career and how it shaped what he decided to go for.

Filed Under: Featured, Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM Tagged With: depression, Freelance Writing, Friends, Networking, Recovery, Tribe

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

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

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

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

  • Vanir

    Vanir is the sort of man who has openly wondered aloud about his own armor class in front of his own grandmother. Despite this, he has still managed to somehow become both married and a father. By day, he develops web applications. By night, web applications develop him.

    Email: vanir@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//category/dire-flailings/

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