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You are here: Home / Archives for Newest Critical Hits

The Architect DM: World Building Basics

December 1, 2010 by Bartoneus

So far the Architect DM series has focused primarily on locations and building design, but today and over the next few weeks I’m going to take a look at the larger scale idea of world building and some factors that play into designing a realistic and believable world to play your games in. As with many of the design aspects I’ve talked about previously, designing a realistic world can feel like one of the most intimidating and daunting tasks to undertake but in reality if you apply principles correctly it can make your efforts easier and better at the same time.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games, The Architect DM Tagged With: advice, architect dm, campaign, D&D, design, dnd, Dungeons & Dragons, railroad, roleplaying games, Roleplaying Games, sandbox, world building

Savage West, Session 1: The Riverboat Poker Heist, Rio Grande Burning

December 1, 2010 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty concludes his Savage tale of Savage Epicness in the Wild West of Savage Worlds. Will his PC be stuck in jail while his friends try to complete the caper without him?

Filed Under: Actual Play, Musings of the Chatty DM, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Chatty Plays, Complications, Con Men, Failure is fun, Far West, Savage Worlds

Announcing: Gamma World Guide, Grand Unified Junk Table, and the Junkulator

November 30, 2010 by Dave

Announcing: Gamma World Guide, the Grand Unified Junk Table, the Junkulator random ancient junk generator, and an accompanying article by Jared von Hindman of Head Injury Theater.

Filed Under: News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: gamma world

Gamma World: You Can’t Handle All This Junk

November 30, 2010 by Jared von Hindman

The Grand Unified Junk table has terrible things from all editions….that had Junk tables. Sure, they might have been called Loot or Treasure, but anyone who played knew they mostly contained something that you’d be embarrassed to have…or ashamed to be excited to have. The White Wolf & Alternity editions, being serious expeditions into Gamma Terra, had nothing to stuff inside my trunk. The others? Oh my. Here’s a brief rundown, followed by some of my personal favorites that just might convince you that the Grand Unified Junk Table needs to be let into your heart (or hearts, if you have more than one).

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: ancient junk, gamma world, grand unified junk table, junkulator

Dancing Tentacles

November 30, 2010 by Vanir

I might not look it, but I’m pretty good at Dance Dance Revolution. I know this might seem unlikely, especially for those of you who have seen me. I’m 6’3”, 280 pounds, and as gangly and uncoordinated as they come. I very much think my parents rolled a 4 or 5 for my DEX score.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor, Video Games Tagged With: dance central, dance dance revolution, ddr, fitness, fitness games, kinect, treadmill

Interview with Rich Marflak, Winner of the First RPGA Open Tournament in 1981

November 29, 2010 by Shawn Merwin

An interview with Rich Marflak, the winner of the first RPGA Open tournament at GenCon in 1981.

Filed Under: Interviews, Know Your Roll, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: AD&D, D&D, D&DXP, gencon, rpga

What I Learned Running a 1 to 30 D&D Campaign

November 29, 2010 by Mike Shea

As I write this I sit less than 12 hours away from the last adventure of a level 1 to 30 D&D 4e campaign and I’m feeling strangely emotional about it. I’m extremely lucky to have players willing and able to play nearly every week for two and a half years. I’ve had to come up with an interesting adventure for over 100 sessions that tied together a story spanning the entire level range of 4e D&D.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, epic campaign

Savage West, Session 1: The Riverboat Poker Heist, Of Marks and Busts

November 29, 2010 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty continues describing his Savage Worlds Wild West game where they start executing their complicated plans to steal the prize money of the Annual Rio Grande Riverboat Poker tournament.

Filed Under: Actual Play, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Chatty Plays, Complications, Con Men, Failure is fun, Far West, Savage Worlds

Critical Bits for the week ending 2010-11-28

November 28, 2010 by Gato the News Robot

RT @baldmangames: D&D Experience 2011 pre-reg goes live (finally – ya I know) http://fb.me/tzVlZm7g # From the Archives:: Critical Hits Gift Guide #3 Games http://bit.ly/992L8i #charchive # RT @gamefiend: Achievement Unlocked: Build Achievement System in 4e #dnd : http://bit.ly/9yJl6T # RT @gregbilsland: Combining Themes & Backgrounds: http://wp.me/pPNTx-68 # .@bartoneus reviewed the "Legend of the 5 […]

Filed Under: Critical Bits Tagged With: twitter

The Gammarizer: Bringing Your Town to Gamma Terra

November 28, 2010 by Dave

The Gammarizer is my attempt at a semi-random adventure generation tool for Gamma World. You start with a location all the players are familiar with (like your hometown) and then change it to fit into the post-apocalyptic setting of Gamma Terra, and in the process, generate an adventure on the fly. This method focuses on using the elements of a setting and altering it to connect to the origins of the PCs to give it that Gamma flavor and a personal connection.

Filed Under: Critical Threats, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: gamma world

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About the Author

  • Bartoneus

    Danny works professionally as an architectural designer and serves as managing editor here at CH, which means he shares many of the duties of being an editor but without the fame and recognition. He also writes about RPGs, videogames, movies, and TV. He is married to Sucilaria, and has a personal blog at Incorrect Blitz Input. (Email Danny or follow him on Twitter).

    Email: bartoneus@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//author/Bartoneus/

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