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You are here: Home / Archives for Roleplaying Games

I Haven’t Washed My DM Pants In Six Months And They Smell Like Umber Hulk

July 26, 2011 by Vanir

When I got home from DDXP last January, the desire to have a gaming group again had been fanned from a wee spark into a roaring flame. I immediately set about the task of inviting people and getting things set up, and before we knew it, we were playing our first game together. Now, just a shade under 6 months in, I’m taking a step back to see how things are.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Dire Flailings, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: cowabunga, don't move away plz, Feedback, five monthaversary, gaming group, omg feelings, pizza, player satisfaction

Scotty’s Brewpub: Gaming, Grog, Grub, and Good Times for Gen Con

July 22, 2011 by guest

There’s a lot going on at Scotty’s during Gen Con. The short, take away is JUST GO, you’ll have fun. That’s enough if this looks like it’s going to be a TL;DR for you.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D, gen con, pathfinder, restaurants, wizards of the coast

Killing Characters

July 21, 2011 by dixontrimline

And so the Dungeon Master, the creator of all things, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, oh yes, this Dungeon Master will make you fear death.

Filed Under: Editorial, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, death and dying, DM advice

The Architect DM: On Sandbox Campaigns

July 20, 2011 by Bartoneus

The Architect DM series has covered a lot of different aspects or tabletop RPGs ranging from details of a single encounter to the much larger task of planning out an entire game world. I’ve found myself tending to progress through that range from post to post instead of staying to one end or another for more than one or two posts in a row. With this in mind, today’s post comes from some of my more recent thoughts on Campaign planning and how to build towards running a mostly sandbox style game.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: advice, architect dm, campaign, D&D, design, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, planning, railroad, roleplaying games, sandbox

Save Yourself: Vote For Critical Hits

July 19, 2011 by Vanir

As many of you are aware, Critical Hits is up for an Ennie this year. Dave has already given you all several good reasons to vote for us, but I’m here today to seal the deal. I put myself at great personal risk to reveal this information, but a win this year would shed a lot of light on the truth all gamers need to know. The consequences for not reading could be quite random – and deadly!

Filed Under: Dire Flailings, Humor, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: D&D, d10, d12, d20, d30 who uses that, d4, d6, d8, ennies, gen con, gencon, venomous, VENOMOUS D12 OMG, vote

Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 11

July 18, 2011 by Dungeon Master Guys

In this episode of the ENNIE-NOMINATED DM Guys podcast, Newbie and Dave are joined by Sarah Darkmagic as co-host, Dave talks to Brennan Taylor and Ryan Macklin about running convention games, NewbieDM talks to Daniel Perez about running online games, and we answer listener questions.

Filed Under: Dungeon Master Guys Podcast, Newest Critical Hits, Podcasts, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DM advice

Does Size Really Matter?

July 18, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty muses about the importance of size in RPG groups and the fact that he holds on to ridiculous expectations and beliefs in SPITE of contrary data. Could it be that Chatty is not a logical positronic brain but an actual slightly damaged human being?

Filed Under: Featured, Musings of the Chatty DM, Player Psychology, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Banewarrens, D&D, group size, monte cook, pathfinder

Ennie Award Voting Opens: Shameless Begging Begins

July 15, 2011 by Dave

This is our third year of being nominated (2009 for Best Website, 2010 for Best Blog when it was a new category, and this year for Best Blog.) We’ve also been honored to have The Dungeon Master Guys podcast nominated for Best Podcast and would appreciate that to.

Filed Under: Editorial, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: ennie awards, ennie awards 2011, ennies, please go vote, shameless begging

Nonplayer Conundrum

July 14, 2011 by dixontrimline

Because the population of a typical game world runs more than four to six, there will be a vast and diverse representation of nonplayer characters in every game, and not just the ones that want to strangle the characters with their own intestines.

Filed Under: Editorial, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: characters, DM advice, NPCs

The Architect DM: Give It Some Height

July 13, 2011 by Bartoneus

I’m going to clue you guys in to a nifty little secret that I’ve been using for a while now in my RPG encounters – adding height to a tabletop RPG can be one of the best ways to invigorate your encounters. You must be careful, because using something like height in your game can become something of a gimmick or a trick and if overused could become predictable or boring to your players. However, when applied correctly and in the right amount height and depth can create some of the most memorable moments of your game and can also help enforce or dissuade certain styles of play.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, advice, architect dm, D&D, design, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, encounter, gimmicks, height, Location, Roleplaying Games, roleplaying games, Tips, worldbuilding

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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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