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You are here: Home / Archives for Roleplaying Games

Exclusive Preview: “Real Ultimate Power” Sourcebook

February 6, 2009 by Dave

Our sources have uncovered pages from an upcoming supplement designed to change 4e forever. This sourcebook details the users of the Real Ultimate power source. The iconic user of this power source is the Ninja of course, but we have also found that the book will include options for your Pirate and Cowboy characters that also draw on, in the words of the book, “the essence of totally sweet awesomeness.”

Filed Under: Featured, Humor, Roleplaying Games, Web Meme Tagged With: 4e, Humor, ninjas, real ultimate power

Chrome Compendium

February 5, 2009 by Dave

Just a quick tip for a very small cross section of people. If you use Google Docs, the Chrome web browser, and the DDI Compendium, you can copy and paste stat blocks directly into a Google Doc and retain all the formating. This has proven very handy for my games, where instead of referencing books during the game or printing things out, I can just pull open the Google Doc where I’ve done my planning and reference the stat blocks there. (Plus, if I want, I can edit them to change names, adjust powers, or take away hit points).

Filed Under: Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, chrome, compendium, D&DI, google docs

Fiat Lux: The origin of D&D 4e’s stance on light.

February 3, 2009 by The Chatty DM

I don’t think it was mentioned much but one of the minor things that changed in D&D 4e is the assumption that most underground adventure locales would be lit by a light source.  I distinctly recall, in all previous edition, having to ask who held the light and where that person stood in the marching […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e

Inq. of the Week: Campaigning?

February 3, 2009 by Bartoneus

For this week what has been on my mind is how my D&D campaign is going to progress into the future, both Dave and I are running games right now and our players have just reached mid-heroic tier, which means there are many new possibilities opening up to them and us as DMs.

Filed Under: Comics, Featured, Inquisition of the Week, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: campaign, D&D, dnd, Dungeons & Dragons, roleplaying, Roleplaying Games

DM Chronicles: Session 8, Hey! That’s actually fun! Part 2

February 2, 2009 by The Chatty DM

See part 1 here. When I described to Rocco the Rogue that his recon mission had turned sour and that he was now at the bottom of a pit surrounded by gnashing mandibles and bladed claws I found myself stumped.   I had put the player in trouble without giving him the benefit of a die […]

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, Chatty's 2008-2009 campaign, Tropes

DM Chronicles: Session 8, Hey! That’s actually fun! Part 1

January 31, 2009 by The Chatty DM

Previously in Chatty’s Game: Our heroes successfully infiltrated the hideout of a local goblinoid slavers gang and cleaned it out with ease.  However,  the slaves they were looking for had just been delivered to a duergar clan.   Following a trail of (somewhat flimsy) clues, our heroes posed as slavers and got hired to escort […]

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, Chatty's 2008-2009 campaign

Dungeons & Dragons & Racism

January 30, 2009 by The Main Event

At first blush, D&D is a harmless fantasy game of heroes and villains, black & white. This article will examine the phenomena, offer some explanations as to its implications, and suggest how I have, anecdotally, approached the quandary of race in Dungeons & Dragons.

Filed Under: Critical Bits, Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy Genre Tagged With: dm theory, races, racism

D&D XP 2009: No news is… no news

January 30, 2009 by Dave

Maybe it’s just me being arrogant (it happens a lot), but I gotta say, the quality of journalism for coverage of this year’s D&D XP convention is way lower than last year. By this time last year, I had already written up the entire new products seminar, and others had been liveblogging, conducting interviews, etc. I’ve barely heard anything from the convention, despite my pleas.

Filed Under: Critical Bits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D XP

Chatty’s Mailbag: D&D 4e Tactical Help

January 28, 2009 by The Chatty DM

Here’s another recent mail I got from a reader.  I’ve edited some because English isn’t his primary language (email comes from The Netherlands)… come to think of it, it’s not mine either 🙂 Dear DM of Chatyness, A friend of mine said I should read this blog and now I spend most of my vacation […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games

Great News! Chatty’s D&D 4e adventure to be published

January 27, 2009 by The Chatty DM

I got some news from Goodman Games today. My short D&D 4e adventure will get published!  I can’t say anything about it but be certain that I will keep you updated! It should see the light of day next summer. I’m so happy and have been geeking out most of the day! For those who […]

Filed Under: Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games

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  • 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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