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You are here: Home / Archives for monsters

10 Things I Dig About the New “Monster Manual” (And 5 I Don’t)

August 28, 2014 by Dave

I was one of the fortunate few to get my grubby mitts on an advance copy of the Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons. We’ll have a full review of the book in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I wanted to explore some of the aspects that jumped out at me as we flipped through.

Filed Under: Critical Threats, Editorial, Featured, Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 5e, D&D, dndnext, Monster Manual, monsters

Minions Are Spice

July 22, 2010 by Chris Sims

A minion is a tiny onion used for flavor, especially in soups. That’s what my father told me when I was a kid. Even then, though, the D&D game had imparted enough for me to see the lie and the humor. In fact, if analyzed closely, this quip from dear ol’ dad, and my assimilation of it, might explain a lot about me. Talk about analysis paralysis.

Filed Under: Analysis Paralysis, Columns, Editorial, Featured, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, D&D, DM advice, encounter design, minions, monsters

Interview: Steve Townshend, D&D Freelancer and Co-Author of “Demonomicon”

July 14, 2010 by Dave

Steve Townshend is a freelance writer (both for D&D and his own fiction) and actor living in Chicago. We recently had the chance to interview Steve over email about the release of the new D&D Demonomicon book, of which his name shares the cover with Mike Mearls and Brian R. James. We also asked him about story in D&D games, a subject with which he has a lot to say.

Filed Under: Featured, Interviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, demonomicon, DM advice, freelancing, monsters, steve townshend

Mailbag 8—All By Myself, Part 5

July 1, 2010 by Chris Sims

This final piece is all about the competition for your solos—the players and their characters. You design encounters to challenge those others at your game table, so almost all of this series has really been about them anyway. Rather than the mechanics of making and using solo creatures, this section focuses on engaging players, and keeping them that way, and allowing characters to shine against a solo.

Filed Under: Analysis Paralysis, Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, D&D, DM advice, encounter design, monsters, solos monsters

D&D Trivia Archive May 2010

June 10, 2010 by Chris Sims

On Twitter, I give out little tidbits about D&D history as I know it or experienced it. This means I might not always be right, but at least it’s interesting. You can challenge me on twitter or by email.

Here’s the May 2010 D&D trivia archive.

Filed Under: Analysis Paralysis, Columns, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 3e, 4e, assassin, CR, critical hit, dark sun, dhampyr, DM, Eric Holmes, invoker, ki, level, Lorwyn, minions, monsters, monte cook, Oriental Adventures, revenant, trolls

Mailbag 4 – All By Myself, Part 1

May 3, 2010 by Chris Sims

Mike Shea asked me how I’d handle solos at upper levels so that they shine against powerful characters and skilled players. Over multiple Mailbag articles, we’re going to talk about solos, as well as what they can and should do for you.

Filed Under: Analysis Paralysis, Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, customizing monsters, D&D, epic monsters, monsters, solo

Two Words to Convince You to Buy Kobold Quarterly #10

July 20, 2009 by Dave

Gelantinous Cubes. We don’t have to tell you that Kobold Quarterly is great, or that it’s been nominated for 3 Ennies (though it’s going down in the Best Website category!), or that it includes tons of material for both 3.5 players (with a preview of Pathfinder) and 4e player.  We don’t have to tell you […]

Filed Under: Editorial, News, Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 3e, 4e, gelatinous cube, kobold quarterly, monsters

Interview: Mike Mearls, Scott Rouse, and Randy Buehler (Part 2)

August 19, 2008 by Dave

Check out the first part of the interview, then continue on. Here, we mainly talk with Mike Mearls about R&D/rules questions. Critical-Hits: We’ve been hearing complaints about lack of customization on fourth edition. How are you going to add to fourth edition as far as customization, and options for classes? Mike Mearls: One of the […]

Filed Under: Interviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: class roles, D&D, mike mearls, Monster Manual, monsters

Inq. of the Week: Monster Brawl

July 28, 2008 by Bartoneus

The Dark Knight dominated its second weekend, but who is surprised by that with competition like the way late X-Files movie sequel and Will Ferrell’s latest movie Step Brothers?  It raked in $75 million on its second weekend, which is very impressive and left the second place movie way behind at $30 million.  Last week […]

Filed Under: Featured, Inquisition of the Week, Roleplaying Games, Science Fiction & Fantasy Genre Tagged With: D&D, Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeons and Dragons, Inquisition of the Week, monster brawl, monsters

About the Author

  • Dave

    Dave "The Game" Chalker is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Critical Hits. Since 2005, he has been bringing readers game news and advice, as well as editing nearly everything published here. He is the designer of the Origins Award-winning Get Bit!, a freelance designer and developer, son of a science fiction author, and a Master of Arts. He lives in MD with e and at least three dogs.

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