Archive for May, 2011

Faster D&D 4e Combat: Top Tips

Friday, May 6th, 2011

alt textWe all know by now that the average 60 minute encounter in D&D 4e is far too long.  It’s an eternity compared to prior editions, but worst of all, it has a negative impact on the smoothness and progress of play and adventure pacing. 

That dark road eventually leads to a non-immersive experience and disenchanted and bored D&D players and DMs – if you let it.  Even D&D 4e lead designer Mike Mearls has admitted to seeing combat length as an issue in retrospect. 

However, it doesn’t have to be this way.  Here’s a Leonine Six – the Corvette of Leonine 12’s – to get your playgroup’s combats back on the fast track!

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Guys, Girls & Minions

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

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Connie Thompson of Geek’s Dream Girl recently posted Dude Rolls Like a Lady: Cross-Gender Play in RPGs, an excellent article examining the idea from all angles. Why don’t we do it more? Is cross-gender roleplay a “DM thing” only?  She covers a lot of great angles on the topic, and it inspired a lot of great discussion and ideas from readers, from cross-gender play to character sexuality to character creation and more.

Here is my take on it from my years of D&D play throughout the editions since Basic (as both a DM and player):

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Fear of Death: How To Smoothly Manage Character Death

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

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This is part of a series of articles surrounding character death in D&D 4th edition. For related articles, go here.

Dealing with character death shouldn’t stall or end a game or story, especially if you’ve already planned for it as a playgroup.  As you and I both know, adventuring is dangerous – heroes die, even in 4e.  Here are some ways to be ready for it and manage character death smoothly in your campaign, whether you DM or play: (more…)