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My RPG DNA: Part 2: The Middle Years, GURPS

May 26, 2010 by The Chatty DM

As I grew older, I grew progressively dissatisfied with playing AD&D only. As new RPGs emulating different genres came out, I wanted to experiment them with my friends. However, we soon observed that having to learn a whole new set of rules whenever we felt like switching genres was a significant barrier to entry.

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: AD&D, gurps

Mysteries Of The Unknown, Volume XVI: Unhappy Fanboys

May 25, 2010 by Vanir

Like many of you, I spent my Sunday evening in front of my TV, looking for some closure after six years of Lost. Like many of you, I had my theories as to what in the hell was going on, and I’d heard from several sources that the end of this great show wouldn’t disappoint. It was enough for some, but I say we were owed more.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy Genre, Television Tagged With: D&D, damn you j j abrams, death by stoning, Dungeons and Dragons, emotion-destroying koreans, hurley, hurley is the man, jin, john locke, kate, lack, Lost, sawyer, smokey, sun

Mailbag 6 – All By Myself, Part 3

May 24, 2010 by Chris Sims

In this installment of the exploration of solos, we have two statistics blocks based on what we’ve been talking about. First is a dragon. In or out of the dungeon, this monster has to leave an impression. Next we have a third-party-refurbished berbalang. This version jettisons all the complexity and confusion of the original. It’s relatively straightforward. Both show why customizing monsters is fun D&D 4e.

Filed Under: Analysis Paralysis, Editorial, Featured, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, berbalang, copper dragon, D&D, DM advice, monster design, solo monsters

You’re Not Just Good, You’re Golden

May 18, 2010 by Vanir

For the life of me, I never have fully understood the human compulsion to fill out forms containing their personal data on a computer. If I walked up to a random person on the street with a form asking for their personal data, they’d probably think I was up to something unsavory (like signing them up for a credit card), and tell me to shove off. You put the same person on Facebook, and it wouldn’t surprise me if at least a good portion of their extended profile information is filled in. What benefit does this give anyone but Facebook and their demographic-engine? You know, aside from thoughtfully tailored ads for the user’s pleasure.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor Tagged With: 1995, bbs, connect 14400, fidonet, frontdoor, maximus, modem, renegade

The Downside of Awesome

May 17, 2010 by The Chatty DM

I’ve recently discovered a pattern common to the gaming sessions where I’m not entirely satisfied with the way things went. I realized that it’s partly because encounters reach a state of complexity such that players become confused about the best way to navigate through them. The goal becomes fuzzy or the options are either too numerous or too complex mechanically to be used in full.

Filed Under: Adventure Prep, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: advice, Player Psychology, rule of cool

Mailbag 5 – All By Myself, Part 2

May 17, 2010 by Chris Sims

It ain’t easy DMing, and solo monsters heap some responsibility on your shoulders. You might think that one monster on the field is an easier management task. Sometimes you’re right. But good management starts well before and proceeds throughout an engagement.

Filed Under: Analysis Paralysis, Editorial, Featured, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, berbalang, black dragon, customizing monsters, D&D, DM advice, solo monsters

Gears of Ruin: Sabotage! Part 2

May 13, 2010 by The Chatty DM

Amazingly, the Gnome Airship was still intact when the PCs own ship set in formation near it (along the Melorian’s living airship, and the Warforged chaos-propelled aerolith). Viscount Daven Sakran was joyously awaiting for them, all smiles and virginal innocence under the malvolent look of our semi-railroaded Goliath Warden.

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, Clockwork D&D, Gears of Ruin, Tropes

Gears of Ruin: Sabotage! Part 1

May 11, 2010 by The Chatty DM

Brought together to oversee the security of crucial peace talks, the PCs are faced with sabotage at 20 000 feet over the jagged surface of a world torn by 8 years of global conflicts. One of the diplomat factions turns on the other while demon-summoning clockwork bombs explode on the Gnomish airship housing the peace negotiations. Our heroes have to keep the negotiators alive.

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, Clockwork D&D, Gears of Ruin

Tabletop RPGs and Music: The Beautiful Thieves

May 11, 2010 by The Main Event

Every RPGer struggles to make their game special. No one wants to run a forgettable, generic game. In my opinion, music can very easily fuel ideas for unique campaign settings, adventure, or character concepts.

Filed Under: Featured, Music, Pain of Publication, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D, inspiration

The KFC Double Down – The End of Humanity

May 10, 2010 by Vanir

Do you smell that? Do you enjoy the aroma? The succulent scent of YOUR DOOM? It’s too late now, but the very least you can do is find out what’s coming. The irony: nothing will eat YOU. Quite the contrary, actually. It matters not if you choose grilled or fried. Your fate is sealed.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor Tagged With: double down, fatnarok, FKC, jormungandr, oh the humanity, ragnarok

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About the Author

  • The Chatty DM

    The Chatty DM is the "nom de plume" of gamer geek Philippe-Antoine Menard. He has been a GM for over 40 years. An award-winning RPG blogger, game designer, and scriptwriter at Ubisoft. He squats a corner of Critical Hits he affectionately calls "Musings of the Chatty DM." (Email Phil or follow him on Twitter.)

    Email: chattydm@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//category/chattydm/

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