If there’s one thing most DMs can agree on, it’s that having more monsters to pick and choose from is better than more options for players, so the Monster Manual 2 comes as a welcome addition to 4E. The MM2 expands on many of the monsters we’re already using as well as introduces a whole slew of new beasties to the mix. From front to back, this book really excites me as both a DM and a player, and it delivers a lot of excellent new content for the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons.
Being a Good New Player
So often the focus of my articles is DMing. However, in a few short weeks I will be doing something unusual: joining The Game’s regular D&D game. I’m going to run through the considerations of making a character for a game that has been run for a considerable time (the party is starting off paragon level).
Monster Manual 2 Spoilers!
Wizards of the Coast is releasing some spoilers today for the Monster Manual 2 through various sources, one of which is right here! I believe the deal is that various sources will be sneak previewing different monsters, and you should be able to find the stat blocks for each of these monsters over at the D&D Facebook page.
The Subtle Empowerment of the 4E Wizard
I’ve been reading through Arcane Power for the last couple of days, and I am pretty sure Wizards has tried to pull a fast one on us! What’re they trying to pull? Making the Wizard class just as powerful as the other classes in 4th Edition. It’s not really a crime, I know, but I really don’t think many people have noticed yet and I’d like to open up some discussion on the topic.
Review: Arcane Power
The second in Wizard’s series of books that expand upon their power sources was released earlier this week for the 4th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Arcane Power follows very much in the footsteps of Martial Power except this time providing expanded options for all of the arcane spellcasting classes currently in the game. This book will appeal most to the current player of an Arcane character (including Bards, Sorcerers, Swordmages, Warlocks, and Wizards), providing a slew of new options, powers, feats, paragon paths, and epic destinies for each and every one of those classes.
Inq. of the Week: 4th Edition Books?
I began to wonder how many people have bought these books. This led me back to a thought I had when 4E first came out, with the shift of magic items to the Player’s Handbook it became much less important for players that aren’t DMs to buy the Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Monster Manual, and back then I wondered how many people bought all three anyway. These curiosities have now combined into this poll!
Pain of Campaigning VIII: What About the Bad Guys?
Looking at the Campaigning Inquisition, I saw that the vast majority of people favor heroic or at least characters that have the potential to be heroes. Considering the nature of the D&D beast, this makes sense, but I worry that people may be hesitant to try one of the most enjoyable modes of D&D: playing as one of the bad guys.
Inq. of the Week: Campaigning?
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.
Mages Gone Wild
Let us take a short trip back in time, to an earlier era of D&D. It was the age of AD&D 2nd Edition, the edition that my group and I really cut our teeth on. The first character I brought to the table was an Elven Psionicist named Spock (The Complete Psionics Handbook being the […]
The Rule of C4
The trigger happy attitude displayed by many characters and parties in D&D is notorious, prone to looting everyone/thing within groping range; a typical group of adventurers in a fantasy tabletop setting isn’t exactly known for leaving places intact when they blow into town. This player/party attitude is brought to the forefront when explosives enter play, but the other thing it does for many players is opens up their tactical and strategic ability. This is why I believe the Rule of C4 should not be quickly or idly dismissed as more of the “Michael Bay” syndrome that many fear happening to their precious D&D campaigns.
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