RPG Bloggers » 4e

Never Get Involved in a Land War in Asia ("Unmasking the Traitor," Session 1) from free the minions!

free the minions! — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:33:00 +0000

After Silas’ chat with the Raven Queen, he found his companions lying in some coffins in the next chamber. Once they all regained consciousness, the eladrin vampire briefed them on his encounter with the Raven Queen and showed them his spiffy new lo...

Running A Game With New Players from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:45:33 +0000

Over the past couple seasons of D&D Encounters I’ve had the opportunity to play with a lot of new players. Many of these players (usually the younger ones) were competently new to D&D or any RPG fro that matter. While some of the DMs have found it frustrating to run tables with so many inexperienced [...]

Review Round-Up: Tristan & Isolde; Dungeons & Dragons, Volume 2 – First Encounters; The Court Jester from I'd Rather Be Killing Monsters...

HeroPress — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Tristan & Isolde (2006): A modern retelling of an old Celtic tale that was clearly the precursor and blueprint for the Lancelot, Guinevere and King Arthur love-triangle (and also Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet), Tristan & Isolde is a cla...

DMRT: The Geek Ken Opinion for Jan. 2012 from This is My Game

Geek Ken — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

The folks over at 4 Geeks 4E have a pretty fun podcast covering different topics on D&D. One part of the Dungeon Master’s Round Table show is taking twitter questions... Read more »

Initial Impressions of the New D&D from Critical Hits » Roleplaying Games

Critical Hits — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:42 +0000

30 Second Summary Though we know little about the final game, the foundations of the new D&D are solid. The focus on ability scores, flatter power progression, and faster gameplay give freedom to both players and dungeon masters. The refined nature of the game puts a focus on the imagination of the players and the [...]

[D&D4E][Rules] Badges of Achievement house rule. from Paper & Plastic

Paper and Plastic — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

It's some time that I puzzle about how to show my players that the road that they are travelling is not the only one they have available. Let me go deeper in this problem. they have entered into the 4th consecutive year of play and everything is goin...

review: kobold quarterly 20 from Fame & Fortune

Fame & Fortune — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Metric: Kobolds. They've proven their worth even in these straitened times. One of nature's survivors and what's this - next issue they can go into a tavern? Must be doing something... Click the title if you want to know more...

"Let’s Play 1st Ed. Dad!" from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:34:00 +0000

Those are the words I heard after I told my boys that 5e was on the way and there were going to be reprints of the 1st Ed AD&D books. Part of me is thrilled, another part of me is wondering what the hell am I going to do with all the 4e stuff I bou...

D&D Encounters: Beyond the Crystal Cave (Week 11) from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:48 +0000

After navigating the hedge maze and fighting the thieving Boggles, the PCs took a short rest before using their four plant keys to activate the magical sundial gate. The maze around them began to spin until the hedge maze disappeared and the PCs found themselves in a garden just outside the Palace of Spires. A [...]

DDXP 2012 Recap: Running the New D&D and Playing Games from Critical Hits » Roleplaying Games

Critical Hits — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:32:37 +0000

This year's DDXP was a very interesting one, as I suspected. We were actually able to get there, unlike last year, though Fort Wayne's weather seems persistant in its attempts to keep us out. In order to help finance the trip, and because I was one of the few who had an early look at the new D&D, I volunteered to DM seven four-hour slots of the new game to eager players. While I only ended up running four games of it (mostly because I was too tired to do any more than that), I had a blast and felt good about the games that I ran.

Publisher Interview: Joseph Goodman of Goodman Games from Game Knight Reviews

Game Knight Reviews — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:37 +0000

The “Old School” gaming movement continues to impress me with the enthusiasm of the gamers and game companies supporting it. One of the games many gamers are excited about in 2012 is the Spring release of the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game (or DCC RPG) from Goodman Games. And though they could go . . . → Read More: Publisher Interview: Joseph Goodman of Goodman Games

Now I have a machine gun from Treehouse: » RPG

RPG Treehouse — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:51:10 +0000

Quick question about modern firearms in your (d20) gaming. How have you seen automatic fire handled? I want an option that is reasonably balanced against single shot, or a grenade, or any other standard action. I’m guessing it should represent … Continue reading →

Cure Selfish Wounds from Critical Hits » Roleplaying Games

Critical Hits — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:31:33 +0000

Today's D&D Next post at the Wizards site by Bruce Cordell is titled Time to Heal and discusses the role of the Cleric class and how it relates to healing through the life span of Dungeons & Dragons. There's a nice little recap of how healing and the Cleric class have both worked in previous editions, and then there is a poll asking how people prefer the mechanics to be handled. Reading about how healing worked in previous editions brought forward some experiences that I am dying to share with you.

[Review] Kobold Quarterly 20 from tenletter » rpg

tenletter — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:01:43 +0000

“”Do not throw the arrow which will return against you. - Kurdish Proverb“ - Civilization IV tech quote The kobold mines have produced a new issue of Kobold Quarterly. Issue 20 takes a look at archers, including a brand new base class for the Pathfinder RPG. My play group features several archer-loving players and this [...]

Kobold Quarterly #14 for Free! from Pyres of Vam » rpgs

Pyres of Vam — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:00:02 +0000

So, do you read Kobold Quarterly? It’s pretty great and has stuff from Pathfinder, 4e and AGE. Also, non-crunch stuff. Still not sure? Well, it’s your lucky day. Download Kobold Quartlery #14 for FREE up until February 14th. Some info about the issue: Issue #14 was the extra-big Gen Con issue, and in its pages you’ll find:

Month in Review: January 2012 from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:49 +0000

The announcement from Wizards of the Coast confirming that they are indeed working on the next iteration of D&D was the biggest news in gaming this month. A lot of people began speculating on what’s to come, but for now Wizards has not released a lot of details. Our existing relationship with Wizards of the [...]

DDXP 2012: “Charting the Course: An Edition for All Editions” and “New Products” Seminars from Critical Hits » Roleplaying Games

Critical Hits — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:56:02 +0000

This past weekend was DDXP, and since this the new edition of D&D was announced recently, this was both the first chance the public would both find out directly from the mouths of the people making the game what it would be like, as well as try a limited demo of the new game. Like in 2008, questions about the new game were answered, and new ones were created. And just like back then, we were on the scene to report on the goings on to try to bring you a taste of the information available if you couldn't be there.

Switched at Birth – An Origin Story from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:30:37 +0000

A good background should help define who the character is, especially early in the adventurer when he’s relatively inexperienced. Your PC’s backgrounds should do more than just provide him with skill bonus or a free minor power. I encourage players to be creative when coming up with a back-story. I’ve learned that the more detailed [...]

Critical Failures And Magical Mishaps from STUFFER SHACK

Stuffer Shack — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:18 +0000

Everyone loves magical items. Whether they’re common or rare, equipping yourself with the latest Flaming Sword or Circlet of Mental Might is part of the fun of playing. The abilities these items grant make you feel like that powerful fantasy hero...

A Fork in the Road: Starting the Adventure from Nevermet Press

Nevermet Press — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:00:26 +0000

Drop this encounter into your existing 4E D&D campaign to add a bit of Old School D&D fun to your game.

Visit the original post, A Fork in the Road: Starting the Adventure, at Nevermet Press. Subscribe via RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.

The One with the Dragon and the TPK ("Seeds of Chaos," Session 7) from free the minions!

free the minions! — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:17:00 +0000

The highlights of “Seeds of Chaos,” Session #7 included a dragon!, a TPK!, and a special cameo appearance by a god! The heroes of our campaign are: Boojum—a pixie wizard, played by SteveSilas—an eladrin vampire, played by DrewBlake—...

My Fellow Gamers, Stay Classy from The Dread Gazebo

The Dread Gazebo — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:13:18 +0000

Hatorade, Vancian Magic, Tactics, and Other Things I’m here at DDXP and after yesterday’s Class Design Seminar, the internet has seemed ablaze with irrationality. I’d like to quell this uprising somewhat by pointing out a few key factors. First and foremost please watch the video I just linked to in the sentence prior to this one, and watch the whole ...

The Fifteen Minute Workday from Greyhawk Grognard

Greyhawk Grognard — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:53:00 +0000

One of the things that plagues some D&D games (my own included, on occasion) is what is known as "the fifteen minute workday problem". To wit, characters in a dungeon go through two or three rooms, find themselves down some hit points and/or spells...

It’s All About Who You Know from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:30:11 +0000

In Dungeons & Dragons, as in real life, there are two things that help people succeed where others fail: what you’ve done and who you know. In D&D we already make a big deal about “what you’ve done” and we call it XP, but there never seems to be much emphasis or importance placed on [...]

DDXP 2012 Report: The First Glimpses at the New Edition of Dungeons & Dragons from Geek's Dream Girl» Dungeons & Dragons / RPGs

Geek's Dream Girl — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:00:33 +0000

E's at DDXP and reporting the news on the newest edition of Dungeons & Dragons. And she got to be in a playtest group with Monte Cook DMing!

A Game For All People: The Perfect DnD Recipe from Campaign Mastery

Campaign Mastery — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:38:47 +0000

This article is being written in advance of reading any material concerning the actual content of DnDNext from WOTC. Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, the odds are that you’ve heard the announcement of D&D… well, no-one’s quite sure what it’s going to be called yet. The most common handle seems to be [...]

D&D Encounters: Beyond the Crystal Cave (Week 10) from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:30:11 +0000

After battling the Xivorts during the night, the PCs managed to complete their extended rest and began this week’s adventure at 100%. Knowing that the Hag Soryth was expecting them, they hurried to storm her Palace of Spires where they planned to free Juliana and stop Kalabon and Soryth from completing their evil plans for [...]

RPG Blog Carnival: Toronto’s Underground PATH is a Fantastic Location from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:25 +0000

Everyday as I venture to work in downtown Toronto I make use of the PATH. The PATH is Toronto’s underground labyrinth of shops and corridors connecting office buildings, shopping centers and public transit together. In the summer it provides escape from the sunny surface streets and in the winter it is a much warmer alternative [...]

The Advantages of Using 3d6 Over Point Buy from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:57 +0000

Have you ever played a character in 4e D&D without optimized stats? A Fighter with a Strength score below 14 or a Wizard with an Intelligence under 14? I think it’s safe to say that none of us have done it. Why would you? The game assumes that you’re going to have a decent score [...]

Back From The (Un)Dead: How a 15-Year D&D Hiatus Ended from Nevermet Press

Nevermet Press — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:20 +0000

In April of 2011, I came home to Dungeons & Dragons after a 15 year absence. It was a decision made outside the vacuum of the TTRPG community, hence totally...

Visit the original post, Back From The (Un)Dead: How a 15-Year D&D Hiatus Ended, at Nevermet Press. Subscribe via RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.

Quintessential D&D for D&D.Next from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:17:00 +0000

Remember my idea back from the late Summer, the one I was calling Quintessential D&D where there are five linked adventures that used all the rules of all D&D?Here are the links to bring you all back up to speed.http://timbrannan.blogspot.com/2...

Year of the Dragon from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:26:00 +0000

Today is the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon. And what a year it is turning out to be so far."May you live in interesting times." goes the old saying (which may or may not actually be Chinese in origin).We are certainly livi...

Adventure Hooks – Moral Choices from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:00:05 +0000

Adventure hooks are indented as a way to get the PCs into the action quickly. Dangle something interesting in front of them and hope that they take the bait. It might be a greed trap where you offer them a pretty bauble or magical item, or it might be an interaction with a strange or [...]

Adventure Review: The Haunting of Larvik Island (4E) by Stephen Newton from Thick Skull Adventures from Game Knight Reviews

Game Knight Reviews — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Though The Haunting of Larvik Island has been out since June 2011, I’m coming very late to the party. Written by Stephen Newton and published by Thick Skull Adventures, this adventure for a group of five 1st level D&D 4E characters is not just a solid adventure with an old school feel. It also . . . → Read More: Adventure Review: The Haunting of Larvik Island (4E) by Stephen Newton from Thick Skull Adventures

Critical Hits Podcast #34: The Id DM and the Psychology of D&D from Critical Hits » Roleplaying Games

Critical Hits — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:51 +0000

Mike Shea of Sly Flourish and Michael Mallen, practicing psychologist and author of the Id DM D&D blog, discuss the psychology of the gaming table. This podcast discusses some of Mallen’s excellent studies into the mind of the players and the dungeon master and statistical studies of the Penny Arcade D&D podcasts.

Adventure crowd sourcing from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:55:00 +0000

Afternoon all.I am looking for good 1st level adventure for about 5 characters that can be run in a little more than an hour.I have some ideas, but want to know what my options are.Any version of D&D is fine since I want to try it out on a few diff...

Three Down, One to Go ("Seeds of Chaos," Session 6) from free the minions!

free the minions! — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:33:00 +0000

So, of course, the hot topic of discussion as we gathered together at Total Escape Games on this particular Thursday night was WotC’s recent announcement that a new edition of D&D was in the works. The initial reaction at our game table was: “...

inns & taverns: the devil-porter inn from Fame & Fortune

Fame & Fortune — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The Devil-Porter Inn sits halfway up a market town's hill, astride an alley's entrance. Locals passing by always smile at it's statue. The wooden icon of a portly gap-toothed devil... Click the title if you want to know more...

I Want To Have Dungeon Bastard’s Babies from Geek's Dream Girl» Dungeons & Dragons / RPGs

Geek's Dream Girl — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:03 +0000

"Does it have dragons? Does it have dungeons? I want to play it!"

Ameron Answers 23 Questions from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:30:34 +0000

The latest trend sweeping the D&D Blogosphere is to answer the GM Questionnaire. It was posted on Wednesday by Zak S at the website Playing D&D With Porn Stars. He’s asking people to post their answers in the comments section of his website or to post them on your own blog and share the link. [...]

News from Around the Net: 20-JAN-12 from Game Knight Reviews

Game Knight Reviews — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:12 +0000

Welcome to the gaming news roundup for the week of 20-JAN-2012!

This week was “one of those” weeks with work, so I’m gleeful that it’s Friday! Yay!

The debate continued this week about “D&D Next” or “D&D 5e” or “Ultimate Fighting D&D With Kung-fu Grip,” so you’ll see a few stories related to that . . . → Read More: News from Around the Net: 20-JAN-12

Thoughts on Thunderspire from Tower of the Archmage

Tower of the Archmage — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

As we wrapped up Thunderspire I have a few thoughts on how things went overall.MinionsWe all missed minions. It’s a little weird actually, but the one-hit wonders actually made some battles a lot of fun, especially when you can throw hoards of the th...

On the Reissue of the 1E Core Books by WotC from Greyhawk Grognard

Greyhawk Grognard — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

James Raggi says it better than I ever could.Bastard.

D&D: On-again, Off-again, On-again from Troll in the Corner » Role Playing Games

Troll In The Corner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:58 +0000

I’ve had a strange relationship with the grandfather of all RPGs. I speak, of course, of the venerable Dungeons & Dragons. You see, as a child of the 80s, I originally bought in to the “Satanic Panic” that was going on around the ...

D&D Encounters: Beyond the Crystal Cave (Week 9) from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:30:29 +0000

Last week the PCs found Orlando (fused with Propherio) and defeated the Verbeeg Basal who was trying to kill him. After the contest of champions in which the PCs emerged victorious, Basal rewarded the party with a magical item and then agreed to accompany them and Orlando back to Uma. The return trip back to [...]

In Defense of 4e from Troll in the Corner » Role Playing Games

Troll In The Corner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:10 +0000

Wizards of the Coast announced this week they are working on Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition. Unlike previous releases they are now courting player input. Many long-time players were upset by 4th edition. They often referred to it as World of...

Thunderspire Session 6 part 2 from Tower of the Archmage

Tower of the Archmage — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

This session was played on 1/7.Cory ran:Dietrich the Human KnightAnder the Halfling RogueAlex ran:Barakas the Tiefling WarlordChan Lee the Human MonkThe death of the demonic gnoll freed the slaves from the ritual, and they collapsed to the ground drain...

Do You Have The Right Tools (or PCs) For The Job? from Dungeon's Master

Dungeon's Master — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:11 +0000

I’ve played in a lot of games where things could have been a lot easier if we’d only had a Cleric in the party. Or an archer. Or someone trained in Thievery. Or a controller. The point is that some obstacles are going to be easier if you have the right tools for the job. [...]

Ouroboros University: The Amphitheater [D&D] from Nevermet Press

Nevermet Press — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:50 +0000

The Amphitheater at Ouroboros University features a horseshoe shaped seating area open to the weather, though the stage and the seating closest to the stage are have a roof but no...

Visit the original post, Ouroboros University: The Amphitheater [D&D], at Nevermet Press. Subscribe via RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.

The Dragonslayers and the Books of Vile Darkness from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:29:00 +0000

The Dragonslayers are currently wandering around the Greater Caverns of Iggwilv's lair (The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth). They have been sent to recover the rumored "Golden Treasure of Iggwilv" which of course is Drelzna. I am of course keeping all...