Author: Ameron (Derek Myers)

Skill Challenge Week

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Skill Challenge Week here at Dungeon’s Master. Every day for the next week we’ll bring you one or more new skill challenges that you can drop into your existing campaign.

As a special treat for those playing in Eberron, we’ll even have a few Eberron-specific skill challenges for you to use as soon as you pick up the Eberron Player’s Guide on Tuesday. We’ll also look at the impact a Dragonmark has on your PC’s skills during skill challenges. The extent of new benefits or difficulties you may experience during a skill challenge can differ greatly depending on which Dragonmark you possess.

Our existing skill challenge library will expand considerably over the next week. Whether you’re looking for skill challenge templates you can use immediately or you just want to see some of the creative ways we think skills can be used, be sure to visit Dungeon’s Master every day during Skill Challenge Week.

Tags 4e, D&D, Dragonmark, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Eberron, Skill Challenge, Skill Challenges

Class Discussions Player Resources

The Most Powerful Fighter is a Battlerager Fighter

Post author By Ameron (Derek Myers)
Post date June 11, 2009
25 Comments on The Most Powerful Fighter is a Battlerager Fighter

It pays to do your homework when building a character. I’ve played some tough characters in my day, but the Battlerager Fighter I played in a recent LFR game was the toughest melee character I’ve ever played. This is one of the character builds I presented in the Characters Who Deal the Most Damage article from last month and after seeing him in action I don’t know why you’d want to play any other kind of Fighter.

Tags 4e, Battlerager Fighter, character builder, Class Discussions, Crit, D&D, Damage, DPS, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Dwarf, Fighter, Max Damage

Editorial

GenCon Preview (Part 1)

Although it’s only the beginning of June, GenCon doesn’t feel that far away. I’m betting the 9 weeks will fly right by and before you know it GenCon will be upon us. Until then, here are a few of my thoughts and some announcements about GenCon 2009.

Tags 4e, D&D, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, GenCon, LFR, Player Resources, RPGA, Wizards of the Coast

Book Reviews Eberron Player Resources

Review: Eberron Player’s Guide (Part 2)

Post author By Ameron (Derek Myers)
Post date June 9, 2009
12 Comments on Review: Eberron Player’s Guide (Part 2)

eberron-players-guide-01 The wait is over. We have the Eberron Player’s Guide now and we’re reviewing the entire book today. We’re revealing everything about the feats, the magic items and most importantly the Dragonmarks. We covered the races and the classes in the Eberron Player’s Guide Review (part 1) that we posted earlier today. Now we complete the review and reveal all the remaining secrets.

Tags 4e, Changeling, D&D, Dragonmark, Dragonmarked House, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Eberron, Eberron Player’s Guide, Kalashtar, Paragon Path, Review, Warforged

Book Reviews Eberron Player Resources

Review: Eberron Player’s Guide

Post author By Ameron (Derek Myers)
Post date June 9, 2009
11 Comments on Review: Eberron Player’s Guide

eberron-players-guide-01 Changes are happening in Eberron. The Eberron Player’s Guide hits shelves next week, but we have our copy now and we’re going to share with you all of its greatness. This is the first of two posts that we are publishing today. So if you’re a fan of Eberron already or just curious to see where this campaign setting is going with 4e D&D, then keep reading.

Tags 4e, Changeling, D&D, Dragonmark, Dragonmarked House, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Eberron, Eberron Player's Guide, Kalashtar, Paragon Path, Review, Warforged

DM Resources Player Resources

Playing Two Characters

I like playing two characters. As long as I get to create them both, then I’ll play two characters any time the DM allows it. But playing two characters when one is yours and one belongs to someone else is a lot more difficult and generally not as much fun.

I’ve played in games where the DM gave players the option of playing one or two characters. Most of my friends choose to stick with one character, but not me; if I can play two characters, I will. Here are some of the pros and cons I’ve found over the years of playing two characters in the same campaign.

Tags 4e, D&D, DM, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Playing Two Characters, resource, RPG

Player Resources

Big Bad Weapons

Sometimes you choose a weapon because it looks cool. Other times you choose a weapon that’s practical. And sometimes you choose a weapon that’s cheap. But most often you choose a weapon because it deals the most damage.

Tags 4e, Axe, Big Bad Weapons, D&D, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Hammer, Min-max, Spear

Player Resources

Adventuring Company Symbols

Post author By Ameron (Derek Myers)
Post date June 4, 2009
9 Comments on Adventuring Company Symbols

What do organized sports teams, military units and street gangs have in common? They all self identify with a shared logo, emblem or colour scheme. In D&D, the PCs are often part of an adventuring party. So if a PC spends all of his time living, traveling and fighting with these comrades, it makes sense that they would see themselves as part of an exclusive group. Do they have team colours? Do they display a common symbol, share a similar piece of jewelry, have matching tattoos or something else that makes them feel like part of the team? If the answer is no, then my question is, “Why not?”

Tags 4e, Adventuring Company Symbols, D&D, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Logo, party name, reputation, Symbol

DM Resources

Fighting One Monster is Boring

Post author By Ameron (Derek Myers)
Post date June 3, 2009
16 Comments on Fighting One Monster is Boring

As a PC, I’d rather face five opponents than one. And, as the DM, I’d rather throw five opponents against the PCs than just one. This has been my take on combat since my earliest days of D&D. As new editions of D&D got released I kept an open mind and explored the possibilities again, but every time I found the outcome the same. It’s better to have the PCs fight a mob rather than one really tough foe.

I’ve encountered very few gamers (DMs or players) who disagree with me on this point. The number one reason I’ve heard is that it’s boring to fight just one monster no matter how powerful it is. So if no one wants to fight just one monster then it sounds to me like something’s not right with the game. And if that’s the case perhaps we can do something to change that. Let’s figure out a way to make fighting one really tough opponent as much fun as fighting five guys.

Tags 4e, Brute, D&D, DM Resources, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Fighting One Monster, Solo

Month in Review

Month in Review: May 2009

Post author By Ameron (Derek Myers)
Post date June 1, 2009

In May we hit the four month mark as well as posting our 100th article. Things are going great and we’re still marching full speed ahead. We’ll continue providing these monthly recaps so that everyone can get a quick overview of what’s happened at Dungeon’s Master over the past month. Our readership and subscribers continue growing so thank you to everyone who visits and comments regularly. Knowing that you keep coming back lets us know that we’re on the right track. Here are the highlights from May just in case you missed anything.

Tags 4e, D&D, Defender, Dungeons and Dragons, Dungeon’s Master, Game Day, Monster Manual 2, Month in Review, role, Skill Challenge, Striker, Worldwide D&D Game Day