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You are here: Home / Archives for Roleplaying Games

Crockpot Villainy

January 15, 2013 by Vanir

One of the best things about tabletop roleplaying games is that, in many cases, we find ourselves week after week weaving together a long story. In turn, one of the best things about a long story is that the tale can take its time and simmer, locking in all the delicious flavors. And, like a stew, most stories have villains and/or carrots. Savory fall-off-the bone simile aside, a carrot in it for the long haul usually has an amazing tale to tell. Unless you’re one of those weird people that doesn’t like villain stew, in which case, I’m not sure why you’re even here.

Filed Under: Adventure Prep, Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: emma, glorious strategist, goals, jade empire, long term goals, once upon a time, palpatine, plots, prince charming, proper villainy, regina, rumplestiltskin, secrecy, short term goals, snow white

The Top 10 Things That Can Make Convention Games Suck

January 14, 2013 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty DM presents a whole list of things that can make Convention games be less than ideal experiences.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Humor, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games

Risk, Reward and Thunder-Reclamation

January 8, 2013 by Vanir

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things you miss when you run a roleplaying game instead of playing a character in it, and I’ve remembered something that I don’t think I’ve been giving enough of to my players: namely, the thrill of extracting a character you love from a dangerous situation. It’s the gift that keeps on threatening to kill you.

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: combat, Crunch, fluff, play balance, Reward, risk

Vanir’s 2013 Gaming Resolutions

January 2, 2013 by Vanir

It’s that time again. The year is new, and the resolutions are flying. Let’s see how my Will save goes this year.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games, Video Games Tagged With: 2013, camaraderie, coop gaming, family, Friends, new year, resolutions

My Year in Gaming Kickstarters

December 31, 2012 by Dave

As 2012 wraps up, I wanted to take a look at the Kickstarters I supported this year, and ultimately focusing on the games, particularly the RPGs, my most-supported category.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Comics, Critical Threats, Editorial, Featured, Movies, Music, Roleplaying Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy Genre, Video Games Tagged With: Kickstarter

Fifty Shades of “Marvel Heroic Roleplaying”

December 27, 2012 by The Main Event

Cortex Plus is an imminently hackable system. Having played in a game that began as Pathfinder and switched to MHRP and kept the same setting, I have experience in crafting MHRP to fit unusual circumstances. I have used MHRP as a basis for changing and epic level Pathfinder game into a more story-telling emphasized hack of MHRP. What follows are some of the more interesting applications that developed in my own game.

Filed Under: Featured, Game Hacks & Content, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: marvel, marvel heroic roleplaying, mhrp, pathfinder

Freelancer Chronicles: The Coast Wizards and I, Some Lessons.

December 19, 2012 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty shares is experiences as a Wizards of the Coast freelancer. The good and the bad. He shares many of the lessons he learned from his experiences should you want to give it a try.

Filed Under: Featured, Freelance Writing, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, D&D, d&d 4e, dragon magazine, dungeon magazine, Dungeons and Dragons, Freelance Writing

Splitsville

December 11, 2012 by Vanir

This past week, our group completed the first major story arc of our campaign. It was awesome and a little sad, for several reasons. I knew this group and this story was about to change forever. I just didn’t know how until it was over.

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: antonyms, bed bath and beyond, campaign, candles, end, evil, freeform play, good, railroading, story, switching sides, villains

The Exaggerated Death of 4th Edition

December 7, 2012 by Mike Shea

Just because Wizards of the Coast pays little attention to 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons doesn’t mean its dead. D&D isn’t Star Wars Galaxies or City of Heroes; WOTC can’t shut the servers down. With currently published material, we can play 4e as long as we desire and the 4e products released since late 2010 are the best in the edition. 4e didn’t die — it finally became stable. It’s not only alive, it may now be the best time to play!

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, character builder, D&D, d&d 4e, D&D Insider, Dungeon Commander, Editorial, Marketing

Collateral Damage #5: The Glass Crusade

December 5, 2012 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty reveals the latest adventures of the West Coast’s most unlikely superheroes. This month’s session introduces a new multi-issue story arc that brings the heroes in a church where they get attacked by a very devout foe! Don’t miss it!

Filed Under: Actual Play, Adventure Prep, Campaign Logs, Featured, Musings of the Chatty DM Tagged With: Collateral Damage, marvel, marvel heroic roleplaying, Marvel RPG

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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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