An Essentials Perspective
Cody—resident player, tactician, and sometimes-MVP—took over the reigns for Seth on Sunday and DM’ed Session 4 of our Essentials campaign. He decided to run us through “The Broken Tower,” a series of three encounters suitable for five 2nd-level characters, from Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeon Delve. One of the exciting things about this venture was it was Cody’s first time at the helm. He not only did an awesome job as a first-time DM, he did an awesome job when compared to many long-time DM’s I’ve played with. Some of the things I...
Read MoreMusings on Our First Session
It’s been a long road getting to where I am now. So, a little background. First of all, my friends Brian and Cody returned from their trip around the world on a cruise ship. This event was what I needed to finally get off my ass and return to serious gaming. That only left finding three other players to round out the group. Seth, Brent, and Paul quickly filled the empty seats, prompting me to begin thinking about what kind of campaign I’d like to run. The new players joined on October 31st, 2010. Our first session of the new campaign took place on Sunday, March 20, 2011. Why did...
Read MoreLooking Back on Yesterday
Recently, my life has taken a decidedly nostalgic turn. As a memory pack rat, I’ve kept a little under a decade’s worth of e-mails, journal entries, pictures, and chat conversations. After reliving those years by sitting in front of the computer and smiling—or sometimes scowling—a single question continued to rear its head: what pushes me to forge on and not just pack in my wizard’s hat? I’m referring, of course, to the tumultuous times I’ve had with D&D groups. Not every group is made in Heaven. Oh sure, I’ve had more good groups than bad....
Read MorePlayer Absences
My good friend Jeff asked me the other day how I deal with character absences. The first thing that came to mind was, “Why does Jeff want to deal with character abstinence? Does he really care if the characters don’t want to have sex?” I quickly realized my error. My answer is simple: I don’t game minus a player, ever, and I’ve held this stance since 2002. For me, any great story is worth waiting one more week so everyone can be there to enjoy it. On average, I try to game twice a month. Occasionally, two or three weeks will go by where we don’t game, but...
Read MoreDon’t Be a Dick!
During his keynote speech at PAX 2007, Wil Wheaton discussed sportsmanship while playing games. It has since become known as Wheaton’s Law, which states: “Don’t be a dick!” Most of the time, a “problem player” is just someone who doesn’t realize there are other ways to look at how he—and his character—can interact with the game and its participants. A roleplaying game is a social activity: not only do you need the skills of a good roleplayer, but you also need to be a decent human being as well. Be Reliable Let’s face it: a game...
Read MoreThe Player From Hell
In September of 2006, I had the privilege and horror of meeting someone who would change the way I look at inviting new people into my home and gaming life… forever. Be warned: this is a very long story. Go to the bathroom, grab a bowl of chips, maybe a few beers, and a comfy chair. It’s a tale that might be hard to believe—but it’s exactly what happened with absolutely nothing left out. It is my hope that this cautionary tale will help, in some small way, the gaming community at large. As much as I’d love to spill the beans on this douchebag’s identity...
Read MoreRule Zero
Players of 3rd Edition will recognize the term “Rule Zero.” It just means any DM ruling supersedes all other rules; his say comes before anything else put to paper. In essence: this is the rule before the rules. For 4th Edition, the following is my Rule Zero: I side with the players on any rules dispute. You see, everything in the Dungeons & Dragons game is stacked against the characters as it is; why not give them a break once in a white? Think about it: Once they’re born, their families instantly become persons of interest. Sisters get abducted. Mothers are killed in...
Read MoreMiniatures and Motivations
The D&D Miniatures line features hundreds of ready-to-play miniatures from the Dungeons & Dragons universe. You’ll find heroes, villains, and monsters of all types. Each miniature uses the 30mm scale and ranges in size from Tiny to Colossal. Included are stat cards with descriptions and rules for running them in combat. The best part of D&D miniatures? All are fully assembled and painted. In my mind, not only is that an amazing innovation, but it also lessens the time and money I spend as DM for the group. Now that Will’s getting the DM bug, he’s also adding...
Read MoreNight of the Skull
Last year, it seemed like I couldn’t get a game together to save my life. The stigma of my old group weighed heavily on me and I was cautious at best to get into a new game. Still, I pressed on, finally making headway with my best friend, my girlfriend, her best friend, and my roommate. Then, little by little, new players heard about the game and wanted to join. Before I knew it, I was running two campaigns, a third was being planned, and the Time of D&D was upon us. That’s when I realized the answer to that age-old question, “Can there be too much of a good...
Read MoreThe Gold Rush
This month’s motto: “When it rains, it pours.” 2005 was a dearth of D&D. An amazing feat, considering how much I love roleplaying. Anyone who’s taken part in one of my campaigns can attest to the fact that I put copious amounts of time and detail into games I run—and I enjoy every moment of it. So why was 2005 devoid of any and all gaming? The unfortunate, honest truth is that I was jaded from D&D due to negative experiences from my previous group. Though leaving that group was the best thing I could have done for my psyche, it removed me from contact...
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