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You are here: Home / Archives for DMing

Mining Tropes for RPG nuggets: Grab a can of Evil

October 24, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Image Source: The one and only PM! This is part of a continuing series of articles that tackles the concepts of tropes and how they can be applied by a DM/GM to improve their favorite Role-Playing game adventures. It is heavily inspired by the sheer goodness of the TV Tropes Wiki.Ahhhh Evil, evil, evil… Misunderstood, […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games, Tropes Tagged With: DMing, fluff, Tropes

Adventure Prep, Special Session: Introducing Newbies to D&D

October 23, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Since PM posted his first ‘Perspective‘ post yesterday, I thought it was the perfect timing for posting this Adventure Prep/Response to PM’s post Next Friday, PM has agreed to get a few friends together and allow me to DM an introductory D&D game. I feel honored to be entrusted a mission so many of us […]

Filed Under: Adventure Prep, Musings of the Chatty DM, Player Psychology, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DMing, fluff

DM Chronicles, Session 4: The Storytellers' Ball, part 2

October 22, 2007 by The Chatty DM

See here for the 1st part of this DM log.So the characters, victorious over the Big Bad and his sidekick, were battered, bruised and the players were showing the 1st signs of being tired (it was getting close to 9 pm). I still had 9 Spriggan mooks and a lab to go through. That’s when […]

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Game Hacks & Content, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 3.5e, Chatty's 2007-2008 campaign, DMing

DM Chronicles, Session 4: The Storytellers' Ball, part 1

October 21, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Image Source: Wizards of the Coast. Previously in Chatty DM’s game:The Characters were investigating the source of a new drug called ‘Green Welcome’ that appeared in the Warrens of Ptolus. This drug has a tendency to transforms its users in horrible Plant-like creatures. Following a tip by a shady dealer, our heroes have started exploring […]

Filed Under: Campaign Logs, Game Hacks & Content, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 3.5e, Chatty's 2007-2008 campaign, DMing, Tropes

Save Keys to open doors…

October 17, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Unrelated Preface: I had dinner with Yax of Dungeonmastering.com on Monday night. He’s in Montreal for a few months and I’m glad I got to meet a fellow blogger. Yax sure is passionate about what he does and he has a plan… (which makes him a Cylon, obviously. Don’t be fooled by his boyish Dr. […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Player Psychology, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DMing, Tropes

Mining Tropes for RPG nuggets: The Blessed Cursed.

October 16, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Image Source: WotC’s Ravenloft baby! This is part of a continuing series of articles that tackles the concepts of tropes and how they can be applied by a DM/GM to improve their favorite Role-Playing game adventures. It is heavily inspired by the sheer goodness of the TV Tropes Wiki.This afternoon, while Gtalking with PM, my […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games, Tropes Tagged With: DMing, Tropes

Adventure Prep, Session 4: The Dynamic Dungeon Crawl

October 15, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Image Source: Wizards of the Coast (I’m baiting for a Cease and Desist letter, I know… hope this falls under fair use) Last time we left our current D&D game, I left my players in the middle of a Sewers-based Dungeon Crawltaken from the Vile Addiction adventure in Dungeon Magazine #145, much to the dismay […]

Filed Under: Adventure Prep, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DMing, Tropes

The Emotionally Smart DM: Introduction

October 14, 2007 by The Chatty DM

Image Source: The Epic Barbarian, Wizards of the Coast. Having finished the series on the 4-stages of team development in terms of an RPG gaming group, I’m now tackling a new one: Joining the concept of Emotional Intelligence to successful DMing. Think about the best DM you’ve ever played with, or if you’ve never had […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Community, DMing

My tools of the Trade

October 13, 2007 by The Chatty DM

While my minions toll away at building my Ultimate Crunch army of Ultimate Power to crush the Fluff Kingdom, I have a game to prepare for next Friday. Recent musings by Dante over at Stupid Ranger has made me ponder about the number of D&D books and gaming aids I use…. I have a lot […]

Filed Under: Geek Stuff, Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DMing

Fluff done right: Paizo's Burnt Offering review (spoiler free)

October 9, 2007 by The Chatty DM

I finished reading the 1st issue of Paizo’s Pathfinder #1 and I maintain my 1st impression that it’s one of the best D&D compatible products I’ve seen in a long time (they can’t say it but I can). The 1st adventure, called Burnt Offering, takes characters from level 1 to level 4 (or more) and […]

Filed Under: Musings of the Chatty DM, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: DMing, fluff, pathfinder

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About the Author

  • The Chatty DM

    The Chatty DM is the "nom de plume" of gamer geek Philippe-Antoine Menard. He has been a GM for over 40 years. An award-winning RPG blogger, game designer, and scriptwriter at Ubisoft. He squats a corner of Critical Hits he affectionately calls "Musings of the Chatty DM." (Email Phil or follow him on Twitter.)

    Email: chattydm@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//category/chattydm/

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