Mike Shea of Sly Flourish interviewed Randall Walker of Initiative or What? (Deadorcs on Twitter) about the use of terrain in your 4e D&D game.
The Architect DM: Creating Histories – Part 1
World building can be one of the most intimidating tasks for DMs and GMs when it comes to running their own RPG campaign. No matter how much advice you read or receive from your friends, creating a world of your own or modifying someone else’s world can still feel incredibly daunting even for people who are experienced at running their own games. In my last solicitation for questions and suggestions to discuss in this series on twitter, clampclontoller said this, “In my homebrew, creating histories in specific territories is a challenge – particularly linking them to the whole world.” Since this is an issue that I’ve struggled with many times myself, it feels like a good topic worth exploring here!
Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 10
Dave talks with Jason Morningstar about Fiasco, we talk about starting up new campaigns, and answer reader email about organization and DM binders.
The Architect DM: Traps, Hazards, & Terrain
Once again I solicited on my twitter account (@Bartoneus) asking what aspects of location design in RPGs people have problems with, and I’d like to thank everyone that responded this afternoon. I will be addressing many of the topics you guys asked about in the future, but for today’s post I chose DigitalDraco’s comment: “I always want to include more interesting terrain effects, hazards & the like but they tend to seem added-on.” This topic immediately struck me as one that I’ve struggled with in the past and one that I believe many other people have had issues with as well.
Critical Hits Podcast #27: The Out
Mike Shea and Dave Chalker talk about the combat “Out,” a method for shortening combats by defining alternative ways that the battle can end instead of one side of the other being wiped out.
Dealing the Wildcards
Anything adventure designers can do to help DMs run their games will mean a better experience for players. In this column, I explore the concept of the wildcards, elements adventure designers can add to encounters that provide DMs with choices.
The 5×5 Method Compendium
Consistently one of our most popular articles here on Critical Hits (for which I couldn’t be prouder), The 5×5 Method is a planning method for GM’s that sits between giving decisions for the party to make so that their choices matter, and at the same time, isn’t so wide open as to make it difficult to plan ahead for those of us who aren’t as great building adventures on the fly. Just in time for GM’s Day, I give you this collection of links about the 5×5 Method.
Dungeon Master Guys, Episode 9
Dave and Phil talk to Cam Banks of Margaret Weis Productions about Cortex Plus, NewbieDM talks to Mike Shea about combat length, and we answer questions about skill checks and table knowledge.
Critical Hits Podcast #26: Lessons from the Paragon Tier
Mike Shea, guest writer here and head honcho of Sly Flourish, interviewed me about the recently completed paragon tier in my campaign. Mike has run a campaign all the way from level 1 to level 30 so he’s experienced with finishing all 3 tiers, and was interested in comparing our two experiences. We talk about top tips for running paragon, issues of plot, world-hopping, combat speed, character effectiveness, and more.
Into the Unknown
Mysteries must have answers in all roleplaying games. At least, the secrets the players wish for their characters to uncover should have some means of being laid bare. That means the DM, at least, has to know, or have an idea, where a path of exploration leads. In the case of published work, the designers should know such answers and, more important, reveal them.
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