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Chatty DM, Freelancer, Part 2: Lessons from Day Jobs

June 5, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty details his real life work experiences and how they helped shape his burgeoning career as a writer.

Filed Under: Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM Tagged With: Biography, D&D Insider, freelancing, Real Life Jobs, Writing

Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-06-05

June 5, 2011 by Gato the News Robot

From the Archives:: Balticon Panel Recap / Crappy First Prototypes http://bit.ly/jWWKo5 #charchive # D&D Daggerdale review updated with interview questions with Bedlam Games, sent before the game was released: http://bit.ly/ivc6wy # RT @mudbunny74: Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Emporium is back up on production schedule for the fall. http://bit.ly/kkGmqb # RT @gregbilsland: Table of Contents for June Dragon […]

Filed Under: Critical Bits Tagged With: twitter

You’re Out of your FAQing Element

June 3, 2011 by Logan Bonner

Ryan Macklin wrote a blog post about problems he sees with “use-whenever” stats in RPGs, using my FAQ hack for Leverage as an example. There are somegood ideas in there, and I encourage reading it. I however think it’s missing the point by suggesting that the FAQ system isn’t doing what it should in the system.

Filed Under: Game Hacks & Content, Minor Quests, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games, Television Tagged With: Cortex Plus, Hack, leverage, Ryan Macklin

Aspectfully Speaking

June 2, 2011 by dixontrimline

With Wil Wheaton’s post, the clouds finally parted and the sun didst shine down and lo, it didst alight on my brow. Previously, I got it, but I didn’t really GET it. I understood it, but I didn’t really understand it.

Filed Under: Editorial, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: acting, aspects, fate, gamma world, player advice

Review: Battle Tag (by Ubisoft)

June 1, 2011 by Bartoneus

The odds are that you haven’t heard of the game Battle Tag that was released by Ubisoft in November of last year. How do I know that? Because so far it has only had what must be called a “soft release” and is only available through Ubisoft’s online store or in stores in Canada and Texas. Aside from some attention garnered at E3 2010, there’s not many ways you would have heard about this game. What’s surprising about this is that Battle Tag is far and away the best laser tag game I’ve ever played and may even be one of the best back yard experiences I’ve had in my entire life.

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews, Video Games Tagged With: back yard, battle tag, battletag, game, laser tag, lasertag, lazer tag, lazertag, new, Reviews, ubisoft

Dear Mom & Dad: Please Send GP

May 31, 2011 by Vanir

College is a special time in every PC’s life. They’re learning new things, they feel more free than they’ve ever been, their hormones are raging, and their backstories are finally blossoming. Just make sure yours uses protection.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Featured, Humor, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: academy, backstory, bards, bards rule, books, college, dm tips, learning, school, university, yay bards

Chatty DM, Freelancer, Part 1: Lessons from Academia

May 30, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty starts telling the story of what made him a writer, sharing a few key lessons from his early years.

Filed Under: Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Biography, D&D Insider, freelancing, Writing

Critical Bits for the week ending 2011-05-29

May 29, 2011 by Gato the News Robot

From the Archives:: Making a Campaing villain http://bit.ly/kEQe6M #charchive # 2011 Spiel Des Jahres Recommendations and Nominees (Geeklist) http://bit.ly/k7RfhI # RT @purplepawn: Preview the Star Trek deckbuilding cards: http://goo.gl/jHKQK # RT @boymonster: Armed with @LoganBonner's FAQ hack, Geek Girls Rule engaged in a little #Leverage heist action: http://goo.gl/FntR7 # RT @Rolling20s: Paizo and WizKids announce […]

Filed Under: Critical Bits Tagged With: twitter

What Can GenCon Do for You?

May 27, 2011 by Shawn Merwin

Ask not what you can do for GenCon, but ask instead what GenCon can do for you.

Filed Under: Editorial, Know Your Roll, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: freelance, gencon

Review: D&D Daggerdale

May 25, 2011 by Dave

D&D Daggerdale is the newest D&D video game release from Atari, available for download on PC, Playstation Network, and Xbox Live. We played the Xbox version, using review copies provided from the publisher. A “hack and slash” style game (in the same genre as Diablo, World of Warcraft, and to a lesser extent older D&D games like Neverwinter Nights and Baldur’s Gate), the game is touted as the first game to use the D&D 4e ruleset (though the connection is loose, as we’ll discuss) and set in the Forgotten Realms.

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews, Roleplaying Games, Video Games Tagged With: 4e, D&D daggerdale, daggerdale, diablo, forgotten realms, hack and slash

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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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