Month in Review: October 2011

Our October articles covered a wide variety of topics for players and DMs. Chances are that throughout October there was at least one or two articles that appealed to you no matter what kind of gamer you are, no matter if you’re a DM or player.

We looked at magic items beginning with magic item identification, adventure hooks where the loot is part of the plot, and then whether or not monsters should use the magic items against the PCs. There was emphasis on cooperative play including an in-depth look at assisting, the benefits of playing someone else’s character and encounter design tips that reward cooperative play.

Throw in a deep discussion on death, a look at the silly aspects of fantasy gaming, D&D Encounters field reports and, of course, an article about zombies and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the eclectic mix of topics we covered in October. If you missed any of the great articles from October then this is your change to get caught up.

We’d like to thank all of our readers for continuing to visit Dungeon’s Master every day. We value your opinion and encourage you to keep providing your feedback in the comments section. We want to hear what you have to say and enjoy the discussion that your comments generate. Even if you disagree with our stance on an issue or topic, the discussion gets people talking which is always our goal.

Highlights

DM Resources

• 7 Halloween-Themed Articles – We compiled 7 articles from our archives featuring a macabre theme, perfect for any Halloween-inspired adventure or campaign.
• 7 Tips For Running an All-Zombie Campaign – Want to turn your D&D adventure into an episode of the Walking Dead? Here are tips on how to do it along with a lot of excellent comments from our readers.
• Breaking Away From Procedural Story-Telling – Don’t limit your campaign to A-B-C linear story-telling; throw in some red herrings and tangents that don’t immediately get resolved.
• Curse Your Sudden, Yet Inevitable Betrayal – Sndwurks explains why PCs who leave the adventure always seem to become villains; and why the players love it so much.
• Death’s Impact in D&D – Whether your campaign sees death as permanent or a revolving door of Raise Dead rituals, there should be a serious real-life discussion about how such loss affects the characters and the world they live in.
• Design Encounters That Reward Cooperative Play – Dantracker suggests ways to design encounters that challenge group objectives, challenge group tactics, and challenge group cohesion.
• Embracing the Silly Aspects of Fantasy Gaming – Just because the players think something is ludicrous doesn’t mean it’s at all out-of-place in a world of fantasy and magic; just look at the Delver’s Delight a Spa for Experienced Adventurers.
• From Looking to Looting in Legends & Lore – Dantracker provides running commentary on Monte Cook’s “Magic and Mystery” article in the Legends & Lore column.
• Let Monsters Use the Treasure – What started as an innocent question at my gaming table (paraphrased at the top of the article) ended up creating a lot of discussion and debate about whether or not monsters should be equipped with magic loot they can use against the party. Join the discussion and leave a comment.
• Make Magical Item Identification Harder – In another magical item article we look at ways to make magic item identification harder and more interesting.

Player Resources

• Hurry Up and Wait – A Look a Delaying and Readying Actions – Sometimes it’s better to hold your action until it can be used to its fullest potential. Here’s what you need to know if you decide to wait.
• Let the Players Roll More Dice – One way to keep players more engaged is to use active defenses and have them roll AC, Fort, Ref and Will.
• Playing Someone Else’s Character – Prove that you know how to make the best character by playing someone else’s and then providing them with feedback
• Use Teamwork, Aid Another – One of the most underused action during combat is to aid another player. We’ve shed new light on this rule-set to help increase awareness and spotlight the benefits.

RPG Blog Carnival

This month’s RPG Blog Carnival hosted by Campaign Mastery is “Making the Loot Part of the Plot.” The Dungeon’s Master contribution was 7 Adventure Hooks for Making the Loot Part of the Plot.

D&D: Heroes of Neverwinter for Facebook

In September we shared beta codes for the new Facebook game D&D: Heroes of Neverwinter with 100 lucky readers. Once the game was officially released we provided a review as well as an interview with one of the developers, Ed Del Castollo.

• Heroes of Neverwinter Review
• Interview With D&D: Heroes of Neverwinter Developer Ed Del Castillo

D&D Encounters

With Neverwinter on the verge of a violent civil war the heroes struggle to find the Lost Heir and convince him to meet face-to-face with Lord Neverember in hopes that it will quell the bloodshed.

Visit the Dungeon’s Master D&D Encounters Archive for all of our ongoing weekly coverage as well as other great D&D Encounters articles and resources.

• D&D Encounters: Lost Crown of Neverwinter (Week 9)
• D&D Encounters: Lost Crown of Neverwinter (Week 10)
• D&D Encounters: Lost Crown of Neverwinter (Week 11)
• D&D Encounters: Lost Crown of Neverwinter (Week 12)

A Look Ahead

In November we’ll complete D&D Encounters season 6 and move on to season 7, Beyond the Crystal Cave. As soon as we have more details on the new season we’ll be sure to share all the details with you. November is the final month for Lair Assault: Forge of the Dawn Titan so expect new field reports, tips and strategies as well as actual play podcasts of all the excitement.

Also in November we’ll look at new ways to use action points, creative ways to use darkness in your game, tying magical item usage to skill checks, and new house rules for re-rolls. If you have any question or suggestions for articles please email us. We’re always open to your input and ideas.

November looks like it will be another great month here at Dungeon’s Master. Don’t miss any of the excitement and be sure to visit us every day.

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